E: Reflections on the Birth of the Elvis Faith

Strausbaugh, associate editor of New York Press and author of Alone with the President, turns his journalistic insights and pleasurable prose to the continued devotion of Elvis fans. He traces similarities between the nature, icons and lore of their posthumous ``friendship'' with Elvis and the early history of many other cults and religions, from UFO groups to Cuban Santeria to Christianity. He picks up from Peter Guralnick (Last Train to Memphis) and Greil Marcus (Dead Elvis) a dedication to history, biography and iconography, and adds his own research, interviews, and theorizing to show how the continued love for the King since his death can be considered a new faith. He examines the Elvis faith systematically, including chapters on Elvis Week at Graceland, Elvis's interest in religion and the occult, historical worship of other Dionysian gods, Elvis healings and Elvis impersonators as priests of the new faith, in addition to the requisite treatments of relics and biography. An entertaining and provocative read, E's only flaw is that Strausbaugh repeats a few facts. Friends of Elvis should be impressed with this respectful treatment, and pop-culture hounds of all breeds will enjoy Strausbaugh's reports of Elvist rituals, dedicated research and smart read of all Elvis and Elvis-like phenomena. (Dec.)