Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley - Hardcover

Guralnick, Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0316332208 ISBN 13: 9780316332200

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company, 1994

Synopsis

A fresh portrait of Elvis Presley, based on hundreds of interviews and a decade of research, emerges in the first volume of a two-part biography of the King, covering Elvis's life up to his Army induction. 100,000 first printing. Tour.

About this title

Review:

Last Train to Memphis is the first part of Peter Gurlanick's epic two-volume life of rock 'n' roll's founding father--and when no less an authority than Bob Dylan writes that "this book cancels out all others", you know Guralnick must be doing something right.

Exhaustive and thorough, though always written from a sympathetic standpoint, this first volume covers the early days: the extraordinary story of a poor young truck driver who came out of nowhere and conquered the world--all within the space of two short years. And while this tale was already one of the more familiar in post-war history, Guralnick always manages to brings something fresh to the telling. The recollections of Marion Keisker, the secretary at Sun records who recognised something special in the polite teenager's voice, help throw some light on the enigma surrounding Elvis: "He was like a mirror in a way: whatever you were looking for, you were going to find in him. It was not in him to say anything malicious. He had all the intricacy of the very simple".

Guralnick is a scrupulous biographer, now established as the definitive chronicler of the strange life and turbulent times of Elvis Presley; better still, his enthusiasm for Elvis' music shines through on every page of the text. And in the end, after all else is gone, that music will remain. --Patrick Humphries

Review:

A wonderful book...Guralnick gives us an Elvis of real flesh and blood...the richest and most detailed protrait of Presely we have ever had. (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH)

Unrivalled...Elvis steps out of these pages, you can feel him breathe, this book cancels out all others - BOB DYLAN (Wonderful...Guralnick deserves to live in Graceland - RODDY DOYLE)

Last Train to Memphis is the first part of Peter Gurlanick's epic two-volume life of rock 'n (roll's founding father--and when no less an authority than Bob Dylan writes that "this book cancels out all others", you know Guralnick must be doing something right. Exhaustive and thorough, though always written from a sympathetic standpoint, this first)

Guralnick is a scrupulous biographer, now established as the definitive chronicler of the strange life and turbulent times of Elvis Presley; better still, his enthusiasm for Elvi s' music shines through on every page of the text. And in the end, after all (Patrick Humphries, AMAZON.CO.UK REVIEW)

About this edition

• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0316332208
• ISBN 13: 9780316332200
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 576