Last Train to Memphis

The Rise of Elvis Presley

By: Peter Guralnick

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

From the moment that he first shook up the world in the mid 1950s, Elvis Presley has been one of the most vivid and enduring myths of American culture.

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley is the first biography to go past that myth and present an Elvis beyond the legend. Based on hundreds of interviews and nearly a decade of research, it traces the evolution not just of the man but of the music and of the culture he left utterly transformed, creating a completely fresh portrait of Elvis and his world.

This volume tracks the first 24 years of Elvis' life, covering his childhood, the stunning first recordings at Sun Records ("That's All Right," "Mystery Train"), and the early RCA hits ("Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel"). These were the years of his improbable self-invention and unprecedented triumphs, when it seemed that everything that Elvis tried succeeded wildly. There was scarcely a cloud in sight through this period until, in 1958, he was drafted into the Army and his mother died shortly thereafter. The audiobook closes on that somber and poignant note.

Last Train to Memphis takes us deep inside Elvis' life, exploring his lifelong passion for music of every sort (from blues and gospel to Bing Crosby and Mario Lanza), his compelling affection for his family, and his intimate relationships with girlfriends, mentors, band members, professional associates, and friends. It shows us the loneliness, the trustfulness, the voracious appetite for experience, and above all the unshakable, almost mystical faith that Elvis had in himself and his music. Drawing frequently on Elvis' own words and on the recollections of those closest to him, the audiobook offers an emotional, complex portrait of young Elvis Presley with a depth and dimension that for the first time allow his extraordinary accomplishments to ring true.

Peter Guralnick has given us a previously unseen world, a rich panoply of people and events that illuminate an achievement, a place, and a time as never revealed before. Written with grace, humor, and affection, Last Train to Memphis has been hailed as the definitive biography of Elvis Presley. It is the first to set aside the myths and focus on Elvis' humanity in a way that has yet to be duplicated.

©2012 Peter Guralnick (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"The first half of Guralnick's projected two-volume biography is eminently engrossing. Taking pains to keep the story fresh and flowing and refraining from foreshadowing and editorializing, Guralnick lets the facts speak for themselves. If you really want only one Elvis biography, let this sensitive book be it." ( Booklist)

"A serious, musically literate, and historically attuned biography. An American epic that belongs on every bookshelf." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Exceptional

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book. I took a chance and I’m thankful I did. A very well written, well thought out, research timeline of Elvis’ beginnings

Great informational read of the early days

Lots of information looking forward to the next one. Chapter 21 broke my heart. 💔

Wonderful and insightful

I loved Elvis and there are so many details that I didn’t know about him. I listened to this book twice. So good.

So many details

I don’t know if I would’ve made it through if I had to read this book. There were so many details, and so many people in the beginning of Elvis’s life that at times it was hard to follow but even so it was very interesting. I’m glad I listened to the book. And I do want to read the second book but this one was pretty long so it’s gonna have to wait.

Wonderfully Thorough

A most satisfying portrait of a young man lost. It has changed my perspective of the human being behind the music, and has inspired a greater appreciation for the singer's less well-known recordings.

Amazing Read

Fantastic character study of the big bang scenario of Elvis Presley, and I mean big bang as in the birth of a universe. Elvis is truly one of a kind and folks like this only come around once a millennium. One of the best biographies I have read that is quite factual and doesn't mince words or protect Elvis's persona like his management or Memphis Mafia or other hangers on attempted to do. It's a story about art, culture, and the politics of the glamorous, gritty and ugly side of the entertainment industry that Elvis was devoured by.

“Elvis Presley: The Tragedy Behind the Legend”

Book Review: Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick

Peter Guralnick’s Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley picks up where Last Train to Memphis left off, chronicling the later years of Elvis Presley’s life. While the first volume painted a vivid picture of a young, ambitious artist rising to iconic status, Careless Love takes a somber turn, revealing the heavy toll of fame, fortune, and personal struggles on one of the greatest showmen and humans of all time.

The book is an unflinching examination of Elvis’s unraveling—a man trapped by his own success, haunted by isolation, and surrounded by enablers. Guralnick masterfully conveys the heartbreaking paradox of Elvis: a cultural juggernaut adored by millions, yet deeply lonely and misunderstood. As the narrative unfolds, we see how the pressures of fame and his dependency on prescription drugs eroded the once-vibrant artist who revolutionized music and defined a generation.

Compared to the uplifting and inspiring Last Train to Memphis, Careless Love is undeniably tragic. It shows how the same charisma and drive that made Elvis a star also contributed to his undoing. Yet, Guralnick treats his subject with immense empathy, never sensationalizing but rather humanizing Elvis’s descent. It’s a poignant reminder that behind the dazzling costumes and the legendary performances was a man who suffered greatly.

Despite the sorrowful tale of his later years, one truth remains undeniable: Elvis Presley, the legend, not only survives but continues to grow larger than life. His music, his impact, and his aura transcend his mortal struggles, solidifying his place as a true American icon. Guralnick’s meticulous research and evocative storytelling ensure that readers not only understand the man behind the myth but also appreciate the enduring legacy he left behind.

Careless Love is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the full scope of Elvis’s life—his brilliance, his struggles, and his lasting influence. It’s a sad yet essential companion to Last Train to Memphis, capturing the human frailty of a man who changed the world and whose legend remains immortal.

Great book for die hard fans

Where does Last Train to Memphis rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It would rank somewhere in the middle

Any additional comments?

This book is a book for Elvis fans, It was a little slow in parts but all and all a pretty good listen...

Elvis

Great book takes you into Elvis's life. I felt like I was in the 50's whily listening to this great book on his early life and his rise to fame and heartbreak.

Wow….

First I have to say that Peter Guralnick has definitely gained me as a fan❤️His writing is so REAL, HONEST and written with so much HEART❤️I HIGHLY respect him❤️He wanted to get it right and boy did he….and then some❤️
There are autobiographies out there that didn’t give me the feelings I felt when I read this book.Guralnick brings Elvis Presley to life. I felt as if I were living it right along with him with every turn of the page❤️ It was so very informative, so very interesting and so very sad to learn how lonely and lost Elvis truly was no matter how much money and fame he had. I didn’t want it to end….I’m SO INVESTED in wanting to know and understand Elvis and the life he lived as much as I possibly can through to the very devastating end….So, I have started book 2 immediately after this one ended❤️
What bittersweet facts I have learned about Elvis, some I knew but SO MANY I DID NOT…I found myself dealing with so many emotions throughout it…deep emotions❤️
What a very SAD end💔It’s so heartbreaking as well as VERY RELATABLE….unfortunately I know the second book will be even sadder for multiple reasons of course.
The narrator, Kevin Stillwell, was absolutely AMAZING and was the PERFECT choice to literally give a voice to Elvis Presleys story. What A PERFECT duo~an OUTSTANDING author and an OUTSTANDING narrator to tell it❤️
THANK YOU PETER GURALNICK for sharing your HONEST piece of HARD WORK with us❤️