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The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley

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( 19 ratings, 4 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley explores the enduring legacy of Elvis Aaron Presley, nearly forty years after his death. Ted Harrison delves into how Elvis’s image and music continue to thrive, with millions of fans worldwide, Elvis impersonators, and the transformation of his life into a modern myth. The book examines the shrewd management of Elvis’s estate by Priscilla Presley and the spiritual and commercial aspects of his ongoing cultural resurrection.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for devoted Elvis fans, scholars of popular culture, and readers interested in the intersection of celebrity, commerce, and modern mythology.

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The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley The Spectator

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Elvis Aaron Presley is more popular today than ever, yet he died nearly forty years ago. His music is constantly remixed and re-released to a new generation of fans, and his image thrives in popular art and culture. Elvis's Graceland home and Tupelo birthplace have become places of pilgrimage. His relics command astounding prices at auction. Around the world, it is estimated that there are 200,000 Elvis impersonators paying tribute to their hero. Elvis is the subject of some truly astonishing rumours and legends, including the one that he never actually died. Ted Harrison asks what lies behind the remarkable resurrection in popular culture of the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

The Death and Resurrection of Elvis Presley, now available in paperback, tells the story of Elvis after Elvis. It shows how his estate, which was pillaged by his manager, was saved through the business acumen and financial vision of his ex-wife Priscilla Presley. It explores a spiritual dimension to the Elvis revival, where fans create a fantasy quasi-religion through which they blend and confuse Elvis and Jesus. In the growing myth of Elvis, Harrison identifies a vibrant synthesis between money and faith, unique to the modern age, but reminiscent of the early centuries of Christianity. Underpinning the whole story is Elvis's extraordinary charisma, thousands of fans simply having a lot of fun and ultimately some great, enduring music. This is a must-read for the many millions of loyal followers, as well as those who are more critical of the King.

'Ted Harrison's central thesis that Elvis has been much more heavily and successfully commercialised in death than in life is convincing . . . It is original. And its most compelling line is that the reason Elvis has been so brilliantly marketed after his death is because he was so badly handled in his lifetime.' - The Spectator

'[a] thorough examination of Elvis's cultural afterlife' - Daily Telegraph

'A quirky analysis of the afterlife of the King of Rock 'n' Roll that looks into the reasons behind the singer's popularity 40 years after his death.' - Love It! magazine

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Spectator praises Harrison's central thesis that Elvis has been more successfully commercialised in death than in life, calling it original and compelling. The Daily Telegraph describes the work as a thorough examination of Elvis's cultural afterlife.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780239903

Publisher: Reaktion Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 September 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Reaktion Books

Illustration: 22 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 272

About the Author

Ted Harrison is a British writer, artist and broadcaster. He is the author of many books, including Diana: Myth and Reality (2006) and Remembrance Today: Poppies, Grief and Heroism (Reaktion, 2012), and produced the award-winning BBC documentary Elvis and the Presleytarians with the late John Peel.

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