Elvis Over England

by Barry Hines

From the author of KESTREL FOR A KNAVE, a contemporary novel about a middle-aged rocker. After the death of his mother, a man begins to think about his teenage years as a Teddy Boy, something which is a far cry from his unemployed, middle-aged life.

Genres: British Literature

Hardcover

Published July 1, 1998

About the author

Barry Hines (June 30, 1939 – March 18, 2016) was an English author, playwright, and screenwriter. His novels and screenplays explore the political and economic struggles of working-class Northern England, particularly in his native West Riding / South Yorkshire.

He is best known for the novel A Kestrel for a Knave (1968), which he helped adapt for Ken Loach's film Kes (1969). He also collaborated with Loach on adaptations of his novels Looks and Smiles (1981) and The Gamekeeper, and a 1977 two-part television drama adaption of his book The Price of Coal.

He also wrote the television film Threads, which depicts the impact of a nuclear war on Sheffield.

Reviews

[Elizabeth Woodcraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought Elvis Over England because Barry Hines died. I only learned about it when I read the Obituaries. When I was an English teacher, his book A Kestrel for a Knave, was a life saver when I was confronted by a class of 14 year olds on Wednesday afternoon when they had just come in from games (for example). His style is easy, accessible, but evocative and reflects the experience of young working class kids. Elvis Over England has all that, but is a slighter book. It is what it says on the back - a road novel by a man in the throes of a mid-life crisis. A man who loves Elvis. It's easy to read, the songs he mentions will make you hum in your head, and the car he drives will fill you with wild imaginings of warm summer nights cruising along the open road.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie is 55, unemployed, angry, and drifting.

The death of his mother triggers the reawakening of issues from his past - an abusive stepfather, an absent father (his dad was a US airman who may or may not have been shot down), the death of his best friend, shattered hopes and lost dreams - all of which leads to a pilgrimage to Prestwick in a 50s Chevvy.

Prestwick is the only place in the UK that Elvis visited - and that was only a fuel stop on the way back to the US from Germany. But Elvis is a constant in Eddies life and he clings to this.

The book is warm and funny, it celebrates working class life and it deals with important issues around identity and family.

I picked this book up when I read that Barry Hines had died (in March this year). I had read most of his other books already. Hines was a great author with a distinctive Northern voice. I found this one hard to put down.

Well worth a read.

[Annie Burrows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally, I only review books if I can wholeheartedly recommend them. However, this was my book group's choice for July...it is not the kind of thing I'd normally read, (hence the 3 stars) but I'm sure it would appeal to a lot of readers. I admired the way the author managed to present both the backstory and the front story (a thing I find tremendously tricky to do).