Meta description: Biographies of Elvis Presley include Peter Guralnick’s 2 volumes, Priscilla Presley’s memoir, and 5 more books compared by author, year, and focus.
Biographies of Elvis Presley: 7 Major Books on His Life, Career, and Legacy
What Are the Main Biographies of Elvis Presley?
The main biographies of Elvis Presley are Peter Guralnick’s two-volume work, Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. The Globe and Mail lists both volumes among its 5 best books on Presley.
Other major books include:
- Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley
- Elvis by Albert Goldman
- That’s Alright, Elvis by Scotty Moore and James Dickerson
- Dead Elvis by Greil Marcus
- The Colonel by Alanna Nash
Which Elvis Presley Biography Is Considered Definitive?
Peter Guralnick’s two-volume biography is the most cited as definitive. A study guide on Presley’s life calls the 2-volume work the definitive Elvis biography.
Guralnick’s books include the prize-winning Presley biography, a trilogy on American roots music, and Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. Careless Love was a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year and made People Magazine’s list of best rock and roll books.
What Does Last Train to Memphis Cover?
Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley is the first volume of the Guralnick biography. It covers Presley’s youth until age 24, when he was inducted into the army.
The volume ends with Presley weeping over the grave of his mother, Gladys. The New York Times praised it highly.
What Does Careless Love Cover?
Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley is the second volume. It begins with Presley’s army service in Germany in 1958 and ends with his death in Memphis in 1977.
The book examines his relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Hachette UK lists a new edition on sale on June 11, 2026.
Which Elvis Presley Memoirs Come From People Who Knew Him?
Four memoirs come from people close to Presley. They include:
- Elvis and Me: Priscilla Presley’s account of their first meeting, marriage, divorce, and lasting bond
- That’s Alright, Elvis: a memoir by guitarist Scotty Moore, with James Dickerson
- Me ‘N Elvis: a memoir by guitarist and backup singer Charlie Hodge
- Elvis Aaron Presley: Revelations from the Memphis Mafia: a book by Alanna Nash with Billy Smith, Marty Lacker, and Lamar Fike
Sofia Coppola adapted Elvis and Me into the 2023 film Priscilla. The Globe and Mail describes Moore’s book as the best of the Elvis and Me genre.
Which Elvis Presley Biography Is the Most Controversial?
Albert Goldman’s 1981 book, Elvis, is the most controversial Presley biography. Goldman drew on more than 4 years of research. Some critics found parts of the book biased and judgmental.
McGraw-Hill published the book in 1981. Goldman also reported that Colonel Tom Parker was born in the Netherlands.
Which Books Cover Specific Parts of Elvis Presley’s Life?
Four books focus on a single theme in Presley’s life. They include:
- The Colonel: Alanna Nash’s book on Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley
- Baby, Let’s Play House: Nash’s 2010 book on the women in Presley’s life, including Priscilla and Ann-Margret
- Elvis Presley: A Southern Life: Joel Williamson’s portrait of Presley set against Southern society
- Dead Elvis: Greil Marcus’s 1991 study of the cultural obsession with Presley
How Do the Main Elvis Presley Books Compare?
The table below compares 7 Elvis Presley books by title, author, year, type, and focus.
| Title | Author | Year | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last Train to Memphis | Peter Guralnick | 1994 | Biography | Youth to army induction at age 24 |
| Careless Love | Peter Guralnick | 1999 | Biography | Army service in 1958 to death in 1977 |
| Elvis | Albert Goldman | 1981 | Critical biography | Rise and fall of Presley |
| Elvis and Me | Priscilla Presley | 1985 | Memoir | Marriage and divorce |
| Dead Elvis | Greil Marcus | 1991 | Cultural study | Cultural obsession with Presley |
| That’s Alright, Elvis | Scotty Moore and James Dickerson | 1997 | Memoir | Friendship with Presley and his earnings |
| Baby, Let’s Play House | Alanna Nash | 2010 | Biography | Women in Presley’s life |
How Do You Choose an Elvis Presley Biography?
Choose an Elvis Presley biography by following 4 steps:
- Identify the life period of interest, from his youth to his death in 1977.
- Select a format, such as a full biography, a memoir, or a cultural study.
- Compare viewpoints, from the Guralnick volumes to Goldman’s critical account.
- Check the publication year, since 2 books from 1981 predate later research.
What Do People Also Ask About Biographies of Elvis Presley?
Who wrote the definitive Elvis Presley biography?
Peter Guralnick wrote the two-volume biography, Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love.
How many volumes is the Guralnick Elvis biography?
The Guralnick biography has 2 volumes.
Which Elvis book became a film?
Elvis and Me became the 2023 film Priscilla.
Which Elvis book covers Colonel Tom Parker?
The Colonel by Alanna Nash covers Parker, and Careless Love examines his role.
Who wrote the controversial 1981 Elvis biography?
Albert Goldman wrote it.
Which Elvis Presley Biography Fits Which Reader?
Each Elvis Presley biography fits a different reader. Readers seeking a full life account read Guralnick’s two volumes. Readers seeking a personal view read Elvis and Me or That’s Alright, Elvis. Readers seeking a critical account read Goldman’s Elvis.