Customer Reviews

When Elvis Died: Media Overload & the Origins of theElvis Cult

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This book takes you back to August 16,1977, the day Elvis Presley died.The book lets you see how elvis's death affected so many people from all over the world.The book begins with the early unconfirmed media reports of elvis's death,and then goes to how the media reacts when these reports are confirmed.And then the book focuses on the vigils the fans held outside of Presley's home in Memphis after he died.Also included are obituary's and articles about elvis from several newpapers from around the country.This book does a great job of giving the reader a feel for what it was like that sad time in 1977,and is recommended to all Elvis fans.

I collect Elvis books and am a bit of an Elvis historian. So, when I got this book I was reading it as part of the never ending stream of books about Presley, etc.

However, I was impressed with this book.

The book offers the media perspective of his death, what went down from their POV and how things fell into place back in 1977. It gives you a very detailed insight into what the story was, why and how it was covered.

It also brings out several details of how the story broke and how information was gathered and used once it was known Presley died. It covers local, national and international reaction to his death and the impact it had on life in those days.

I strongly recommend this book, especially if your a bit tired of reading all of those personal accounts of Elvis by, it seems, anyone who came within 10 miles of his person. This book isn't like those. It's a real book. Uncle Vester probably wouldn't have read it. It would have too many big words for Priscilla or Lisa M. Presley. Same with Sonny or Red West.