In Search of Elvis: A Journey to Find the Man Beneath the Jumpsuit

by Charlie Connelly

In Search Of A Journey to Find the Man Beneath the Jumpsuit Connelly, Charlie

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Charlie Connelly (born 22 August 1970, London, England) is an author of popular non-fiction books. In addition to being a writer, Connelly also appears as a presenter on radio and television shows.

Charlie Connelly is a bestselling author and award-winning broadcaster. His many books include Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round The Shipping Forecast, In Search of Elvis: A Journey To Find The Man Beneath The Jumpsuit and Our Man In Hibernia: Ireland, The Irish And Me. Three of his books have featured as Radio 4′s Book of the Week read by Martin Freeman, Stephen Mangan and Tom Goodman-Hill. Charlie was also a popular presenter on the BBC1 Holiday programme and co-presented the first three series of BBC Radio 4′s Traveller’s Tree with Fi Glover.
His book Gilbert: The Last Years of WG Grace was shortlisted for the 2016 MCC/Cricket Society Book of the Year. The book he wrote with his friend Bernard Sumner, Chapter And Verse: New Order, Joy Division And Me was shortlisted for Book of the Year at the NME Awards, while his most recent co-writing project, Winner: A Racing Life with the champion jockey AP McCoy is shortlisted for Sports Autobiography of the Year.
The audio version of Attention All Shipping came second in a public vote to find the greatest audiobook of all time organised by Waterstone’s and The Guardian. Romeo and Juliet was third, which Charlie takes as official confirmation that he’s better than Shakespeare.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to get around to reading In Search of Elvis. I am a Charlie Connelly fan hooked by the excellent Stamping Grounds and having since read all of his books except for this one and the nigh on impossible to track down Many Miles – but that’s another story.

If I am honest it is not my favourite of his travelogues but it is an enjoyable read delivered in his usual easy going, self-deprecating manner. My favourite chapters were in Memphis, which is perhaps to be expected in a book about Elvis Presley, as it was here that there was more meat on the bone, not only of The King’s story but also the associated history of Beale Street, the Blues, racial tensions and the Civil Rights Movement.

Throughout the book there are interesting characters to meet as Charlie tours Elvis associated locations from Uzbekistan to Canada, Hawaii, Germany and Israel and he is an excellent host as always, revealing the eccentricity and also (crucially) the humanity of his interviewees. Charlie entertains and gently educates, lifting the lid on subjects that you might then seek out in greater depth elsewhere. He is an amiable travelling companion who I would always recommend.

[Steve Chilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining read - a quest to "find the man beneath the jumpsuit", suitably lightweight for the Christmas period. Connelly travels to Elvis shrines around the world and meets people that met him and people that didn't - but insist on impersonating him. Lots of amusing facts and well delivered accounts of the interesting meetings he has - including a Finnish guy who has translated his repertoire into both Latin and Sumerian and performs the results. As good a read as the author's "Attention All Shipping: A Journey Round the Shipping Forecast" which is also highly recommended.

[Sho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Connelly is a most excellent writer. This is the third of his that I've read and again he's picked a great premise for a travel book and given it his spin. To summarise: Charlie Connelly visits places with an Elvis connection. That's it. Uzbekistan to Pontypridd to Memphis. He does all the things you think he might do, and then some other really tenuous ones too. Uzbekistan indeed!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really gentle and very funny

[Louise Culmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Connelly sets out to explore the influence Elvis Presley has had on people in a variety of places around the world. as well as the more obvious places associated with him - Memphis, Hawaii, las vegas etc, he also travels to many places not associated with Elvis - Finland for example, uzbekistan, and Porthcawl in Wales. he meets people who actually knew Elvis, like the owner of the shop where Elvis used to buy his clothes, and explores the mystery of the multitude of Elvis impersonators. One of the most touching parts is where he visits the Elvis cafe in Abu Ghosh, Israel, where Jewish and Muslim fans come together, united by their love for Elvis. Although quite interesting, the book is occasionally irritating, as Connelly seems determined at time to portray himself as an idiot. Could he really have packed nothing but woolly jumpers for a trip to Hawaii for instance? And why does he persist in trying to walk in places that are clearly not suited for walking - he can afford plane travel, hotels, tickets to see Barry manilow and Tom Jones - but not a short taxi ride? However, these irritants aside, the book is interesting and entertaining enough.