The Rough Guide to Elvis by Paul Simpson

The Rough Guide To Elvis' 480 pages are chock-full of excellent information, which is written with style and conviction by someone who, became a fan, apparently, when his mother bought him the 'That's The Way It Is' LP), has clearly done his research thoroughly and is interested in, perhaps even passionate about, his subject. Even the old-time fans will find something to interest them amongst the masses of information provided, and the younger or completely new fans are presented with intelligent discussions about aspects of Elvis, rather than the usual one-sided arguments. Thankfully, too, Paul pulls no punches and tells both the good and the bad, but always allowing the reader to make a final decision, or at least give them the opportunity to search further. 

There are just so many aspects of Elvis' life and career that are presented in 'The Rough Guide' that it would require almost another book just to itemise them all. The reader will find, amongst other topics, the twin controversy, Elvis' close relationship with his mother, influences on Elvis, books about Elvis, the best fifty Elvis tracks (almost my own, but where's 'Suppose'?), complete discussions of his films, Elvis sites, both in the USA (and a few outside the USA!) and on the World Wide Web... well, it just goes on an on. And despite this enormous amount of information, it remains gloriously readable and enjoyable! The reader is not presented with interminable lists, but with well-defined sections that contain basic information, supplemented by sensible commentary and tips for further investigation.

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