E:
REFLECTIONS ON THE
BIRTH OF THE ELVIS FAITH
by John Strausbaugh

God said, "Let there be a manchild made in Heaven, then put upon the earth. . . . I will make him unique and irreplaceable, in a world of duplication; I will present him to the world . . . as a gift from God in Heaven . . . and he will be called 'ELVIS PRESLEY.' " --Anonymous

In the first serious exploration of the wildly improbable genesis of Elvis worship, John Strausbaugh draws on the words of Elvis' true believers and an array of other sources--film, anthropology, folklore, and his own field research at Graceland--to unveil the apotheosis of Elvis Presley, better known as "E" to his friends. The deification of Elvis follows in the ancient tradition of granting deceased popular heroes divinity. E's followers make pilgrimages to the holy site of Graceland, collect sacred Elvis icons, and experience supernatural appearances of Elvis. The multitude of Elvis impersonators that now spans the globe forms a vast priesthood that spreads the gospel of Elvism--the rock 'n' roll religion that has blossomed since Presley's death. With reverence and irreverence, Strausbaugh places Elvism among the many grass-roots religions such as New Age spiritualism, Santeria, charismatic Christianity, and the cult of angels, at the very moment that Elvis is in the throes of transforming into a modern-day pagan god.

John Strausbaugh is Executive Editor of New York Press. His other works include ALONE WITH THE PRESIDENT, published by Blast Books in 1993; Going Out, a political satire; Flying Fish, a collection of short stories; and he coedited THE DRUG USER: DOCUMENTS 1840-1960, published by Blast Books in 1991. He lives in New York City.

"Strausbaugh seriously explores the cultic elements of Elvism. . . . Well written, well researched. . . ." --Library Journal

"[An] important and amusing book. . . . I think he's right on target, and has achieved the appropriate degree of seriousness, without solemnity." --John Shelton Reed, Director, Institute for Research in Social Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Nonfiction
6 x 9" • 224 pages
ISBN: 0-922233-15-2
$12.95 original trade paperback

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