The life of Elvis Presley is one widely speculated, his wild behavior and booming fame made him the spotlight of the media for most of his adult life. Even after his death in 1977, many still yearned to learn more about who Elvis Presley really was, and there was no one better to tell the story of his life than his wife of six years, Priscilla. Priscilla and Elvis’ relationship was one that received a lot of attention, attention that wasn’t always positive due to the fact that they met when Priscilla was only 14 years old and Elvis was 24. Priscilla addresses the rumors and questions the world had been asking for years in her novel, “Elvis and Me”, published in 1985, eight years after Presley’s death.
Though the two had divorced in 1973, Priscilla spoke fondly about Elvis. She talks about how their relationship started, when Elvis turned to her for comfort after the death of his mother while he was enlisted in the army in Germany. She continues on, accounting her move to Graceland when she was only 17 years old and their marriage four years later. Though Priscilla recounts the good parts of their marriage, including the birth of their only child together, Lisa Marie Presley, she also talks about the bad parts. To her, Elvis became in control of almost every aspect of her life, nearly becoming her God.
Priscilla continues on telling their story, even after their divorce and his sudden death, sparing no detail. She was left to take care of Graceland and the Presley name, which she worked hard to restore after all the bad press Elvis received in the final years of his life. It is largely due to her that the Presley enterprise is as successful as it is today, despite the abuse she faced in their marriage.
Personally, I loved this book. “Elvis and Me” is raw and real, sharing a unique insight on what Elvis Presley was really like. It was hard to put down, every chapter revealing vivid details into the singer’s life. I read this book after watching the movie, Elvis, that came out the summer of 2022. Being able to see things from Priscilla’s perspective helped me to understand the life of Elvis even more. The book is so loved, there is a movie set to come out in November this year, based off of the book, Elvis and Me. I think anyone would find this book interesting and I would definitely recommend it for others to read.
