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Elvis in the Morning
Life in the shadow of the King of Rock and Roll…
Orson is a young boy whose mother works at a U.S. Army base in Germany in the 1950s.
There, he becomes a fan of a G.I. stationed at the same base, one Elvis Presley, whose music is played over and over on the radio.
When Orson is caught stealing recordings of Elvis’s tunes from the PX, the publicity catches the star’s attention and thus begins a lifelong friendship.
As Elvis’s career rockets ever higher, Orson and Elvis share many adventures. Elvis becomes the idol of the nation, while Orson drifts away from mainstream life searching for something to believe in.
Each man is an emblem of his time, as social conventions crumble, barriers fall, and the cultural landscape of America changes forever.
Elvis in the Morning is a riveting portrayal of a nation in change and of the effects of celebrity on innocence.
Praise for William F. Buckley Jr.
“Canny ... Sparkles with the borrowed allure of charismatic, real-life figures.”— Book
“[A] quirky look at the life of Elvis and at an American era.”—The New York Daily News
“A fanciful yet believable premise — a lifelong friendship that begins when an American teenager living on a military base in West Germany meets Pvt. Presley during the singer’s well-known 1950s tour of duty in the Army ... Buckley uses his characters’ lives to illustrate the times in which they lived and events ranging from university protests to the beginnings of the computer industry.” — Houston Chronicle
“It’s gripping, stylish, funny, and moving. Who knows? Rolling Stone might even have to acknowledge its excellence.” — The Oxford American
“In Elvis in the Morning, Buckley has crafted a warm, endearing and surprisingly intriguing fable about the wages of fame and the forces that shape our lives If you’re too young to remember the Cold War, this is an excellent way to discover how it felt. If you remember the Elvis era, you’ll have great fun reliving it.”— The News- Press (Ft. Myers, FL)
“It’s a joyful read.”— The Buffalo News
“The erudite Buckley concocts a charmingly sympathetic tale tracing the fictional relationship between a young boy and the King. Buckley captures the hope, the yearning, the magic and pathos of the ’50s and ’60s as few authors have in this “Almost Famous”- like reflection on two turbulent decades ... The well-worn contours of Elvis’s story take on a fresh sharpness when subjected to Buckley’s surprisingly tender treatment. This is a low-key pleasure of a read, a nostalgic tale that eschews mush and a heartfelt tribute to the tragic figure who touched so many lives.” — Publishers Weekly (boxed)
“A breezy, Ragtime-style tale starring Elvis Presley, with cameo appearances by Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater, Col. Tom Parker, and many, many more.”— The Times- Union(Albany, NY)
William F. Buckley Jr. is the founder of National Review and was the host of television’s longest-running program, Firing Line. The author of many bestselling novels, he lives in Connecticut.
Orson is a young boy whose mother works at a U.S. Army base in Germany in the 1950s.
There, he becomes a fan of a G.I. stationed at the same base, one Elvis Presley, whose music is played over and over on the radio.
When Orson is caught stealing recordings of Elvis’s tunes from the PX, the publicity catches the star’s attention and thus begins a lifelong friendship.
As Elvis’s career rockets ever higher, Orson and Elvis share many adventures. Elvis becomes the idol of the nation, while Orson drifts away from mainstream life searching for something to believe in.
Each man is an emblem of his time, as social conventions crumble, barriers fall, and the cultural landscape of America changes forever.
Elvis in the Morning is a riveting portrayal of a nation in change and of the effects of celebrity on innocence.
Praise for William F. Buckley Jr.
“Canny ... Sparkles with the borrowed allure of charismatic, real-life figures.”— Book
“[A] quirky look at the life of Elvis and at an American era.”—The New York Daily News
“A fanciful yet believable premise — a lifelong friendship that begins when an American teenager living on a military base in West Germany meets Pvt. Presley during the singer’s well-known 1950s tour of duty in the Army ... Buckley uses his characters’ lives to illustrate the times in which they lived and events ranging from university protests to the beginnings of the computer industry.” — Houston Chronicle
“It’s gripping, stylish, funny, and moving. Who knows? Rolling Stone might even have to acknowledge its excellence.” — The Oxford American
“In Elvis in the Morning, Buckley has crafted a warm, endearing and surprisingly intriguing fable about the wages of fame and the forces that shape our lives If you’re too young to remember the Cold War, this is an excellent way to discover how it felt. If you remember the Elvis era, you’ll have great fun reliving it.”— The News- Press (Ft. Myers, FL)
“It’s a joyful read.”— The Buffalo News
“The erudite Buckley concocts a charmingly sympathetic tale tracing the fictional relationship between a young boy and the King. Buckley captures the hope, the yearning, the magic and pathos of the ’50s and ’60s as few authors have in this “Almost Famous”- like reflection on two turbulent decades ... The well-worn contours of Elvis’s story take on a fresh sharpness when subjected to Buckley’s surprisingly tender treatment. This is a low-key pleasure of a read, a nostalgic tale that eschews mush and a heartfelt tribute to the tragic figure who touched so many lives.” — Publishers Weekly (boxed)
“A breezy, Ragtime-style tale starring Elvis Presley, with cameo appearances by Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater, Col. Tom Parker, and many, many more.”— The Times- Union(Albany, NY)
William F. Buckley Jr. is the founder of National Review and was the host of television’s longest-running program, Firing Line. The author of many bestselling novels, he lives in Connecticut.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
29 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
William F. Buckley Jr.
183 books336 followersWilliam Frank Buckley, Jr. was an American author and conservative commentator. He founded the political magazine National Review in 1955, hosted 1,429 episodes of the television show Firing Line from 1966 until 1999, and was a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. His writing style was famed for its erudition, wit, and use of uncommon words.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century," according to George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement. "For an entire generation he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary intellectual achievement was to fuse traditional American political conservatism with economic libertarianism and anti-communism, laying the groundwork for the modern American conservatism of US Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater and US President Ronald Reagan.
Buckley came on the public scene with his critical book God and Man at Yale (1951); among over fifty further books on writing, speaking, history, politics and sailing, were a series of novels featuring CIA agent Blackford Oakes. Buckley referred to himself "on and off" as either libertarian or conservative. He resided in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut, and often signed his name as "WFB." He was a practicing Catholic, regularly attending the traditional Latin Mass in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 17, 2019
"Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight? Are you sorry we drifted apart?" -- from Elvis Presley's #1 single in November 1960, composed by Roy Turk / Lou Handman
I'm guessing some will not believe the coincidence (though it doesn't have anything to do with this review), but I finished this book on the 42nd anniversary of the "The King of Rock 'n Roll"'s death.
Author Buckley, better known as a conservative intellectual and commentator, made one of his occasional forays into historical fiction with the good but uneven Elvis in the Morning. The plot follows the fictitious Orson Killere (pronounced 'Kill-air,' but jokingly said as 'killer' but some of the male characters), a young teenager who is living on the same military base in West Germany during Presley's hitch in the U.S. Army (1958-1960). Killere is an devout fan of Presley's music, as well as a friend and classmate of Priscilla Beaulieu. Through plausible and artful plotting in the storyline Killere meets his musical idol, and they actually start a friendship that lasts for 18 eventful years.
It's less Forrest Gump (Killere isn't really present at notable moments in Presley's life) and more of a story about a young man growing up during the tumultuous 60's and 70's. He watches as his hero-turned-unlikely friend makes questionable or bad decisions in life which lead to an early death. I didn't find Orson Killere all that compelling as a main character, but Buckley's depiction of Elvis Presley (along with manager 'Colonel' Tom Parker and a few members of Presley's 'Memphis Mafia') rang true from what I've seen in movies or read in non-fiction books. The author does not make Elvis into some sort of bad joke, but actually presents him as a kind and talented but flawed man.
I'm guessing some will not believe the coincidence (though it doesn't have anything to do with this review), but I finished this book on the 42nd anniversary of the "The King of Rock 'n Roll"'s death.
Author Buckley, better known as a conservative intellectual and commentator, made one of his occasional forays into historical fiction with the good but uneven Elvis in the Morning. The plot follows the fictitious Orson Killere (pronounced 'Kill-air,' but jokingly said as 'killer' but some of the male characters), a young teenager who is living on the same military base in West Germany during Presley's hitch in the U.S. Army (1958-1960). Killere is an devout fan of Presley's music, as well as a friend and classmate of Priscilla Beaulieu. Through plausible and artful plotting in the storyline Killere meets his musical idol, and they actually start a friendship that lasts for 18 eventful years.
It's less Forrest Gump (Killere isn't really present at notable moments in Presley's life) and more of a story about a young man growing up during the tumultuous 60's and 70's. He watches as his hero-turned-unlikely friend makes questionable or bad decisions in life which lead to an early death. I didn't find Orson Killere all that compelling as a main character, but Buckley's depiction of Elvis Presley (along with manager 'Colonel' Tom Parker and a few members of Presley's 'Memphis Mafia') rang true from what I've seen in movies or read in non-fiction books. The author does not make Elvis into some sort of bad joke, but actually presents him as a kind and talented but flawed man.
June 22, 2017
The friendship of Orson and Elvis began in Germany where he was part of a fan club for the singer. He was also friends with Priscilla. With their lifelong friendship told in snippets in time it was a fascinating read.
It is an interesting story, but I was not gripped with emotion on any of their behalfs. I was not really touched by their life stories. I found it more dry than rich and I love a richly emotional story. I was provided the book through Netgalley and the publishers. I appreciated the opportunity to review this book. I do wish I had liked it more.
It is an interesting story, but I was not gripped with emotion on any of their behalfs. I was not really touched by their life stories. I found it more dry than rich and I love a richly emotional story. I was provided the book through Netgalley and the publishers. I appreciated the opportunity to review this book. I do wish I had liked it more.
March 5, 2023
I'm a little biased because WFB Jr. is my favorite author of all time. While I'll never agree with the man's political views, I'll admit he has a way with words. The book flowed smoothly and was great to read!
August 6, 2013
The audio book is a nice way to be entertained during a road trip.
February 26, 2017
No stars...I imagine the only reason this book made it to publication was the fame of its author...I abandoned it on pg 97 of 328...Bo.o.o.ring..
March 27, 2018
William F Buckley, Jr is known for his political books, not necessarily his fiction. So, when preparing for an upcoming vacation, I noticed that he had a fictionalize story of a young man in Elvis’s life, I wanted to read it. Elvis spans all politics, right? It was interesting. I didn’t like the protagonist, a 14 through 32 year old Socialist making his way in America, at all. Orson’s interactions with his childhood best friend, Priscilla Beaulieu, were entertaining, as was his first meeting with his musical hero, Elvis. From that first meeting, a friendship blossomed. Orson and the King stayed in contact for the next almost 30 years. Orson being asked by the Memphis Mafia, Elvis’s band of friends, to try and contradict some of the decisions made by manager Colonel Tom Parker. The Elvis biography in this work of fiction is excellent; it’s just brought down by the annoying and completely unlikeable Orson.
September 23, 2024
Interesting but minimally impactful book, about the convergence of a young boy's life w/an iconic celebrity. It was OK, but unremarkable, without many takeaways. My favorite part of the book was when Orson was on the road. Most of the book seemed muddled, in intent & general plot. What was the reason for this book? I didn't get that. Intriguing concept, but the book seemed to lack emphasis: for example, Orson's life (& others) seemed as important as Elvis's, as they ran concurrently, & there wasn't much that was heightened by their intersection. This book seemed to have potential; but lost it somewhere in the course of the book. It was just OK for me. Expected more from the author.
April 11, 2018
Elvis in the Morning is about the King of Rock and Roll public life through the eyes of Orson Killere, a fan and friend who was the one who supposedly presented Elvis to his future wife Priscilla.
This book mixes the history of Orson in the 60s, his short university life, his socialist activism and his professional and personal life with the hectic artistic life of the King, until his death in 1977.
Even after so many years and knowing in advance how this story will end, the book has left me with the same sensation of the day when the world lost Lady Di, coincidentally also in August.
This book mixes the history of Orson in the 60s, his short university life, his socialist activism and his professional and personal life with the hectic artistic life of the King, until his death in 1977.
Even after so many years and knowing in advance how this story will end, the book has left me with the same sensation of the day when the world lost Lady Di, coincidentally also in August.
August 2, 2017
Always a fan
That Elvis Presley was unusual is no surprise, but this story really focuses more on one very unusual fan. An expat American growing up in Germany is exposed to radical European politics and the music of the King.
That Elvis Presley was unusual is no surprise, but this story really focuses more on one very unusual fan. An expat American growing up in Germany is exposed to radical European politics and the music of the King.
September 21, 2020
It was ok. I know it’s fiction, but I didn’t like how the author changed when Priscilla was in Germany, how she met elvis, how Elvis met Nixon, having Elvis call the Colonel Tom, how Elvis listened to his own records at parties and other incorrect dates and facts.
July 15, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a reasonable story that although fiction, reads as though it may have happened.
This is a reasonable story that although fiction, reads as though it may have happened.
July 13, 2019
Buckley has written a story about friendship, and about the dark side of the quest for money and fame. It is a sympathetic portrayal of Elvis and his descent into drug abuse.
December 18, 2020
A good story, well written... historical fiction? A must for Elvis fans🎶🎶
December 6, 2021
This might have been a better book without the political side story. WFB is probably not capable of writing a story without the politics.
October 5, 2022
Very entertaining!
January 17, 2023
Outstanding: Entertaining and Historical
May 20, 2009
A delightful little book. William Buckley, a conservative lion of the late 20th century, is a good author; even though, I suspect that he wouldn't pass the GOP litmus test in this day and age.) Excellent commentary on post war america up thru the the 70's thru the fictional eyes of Elvis and his friend Orson. Makes me want to visit Graceland now more than ever.
July 28, 2009
This book came highly recommended from my sister and brother-in-law and for good reason. This is a great book about friendship between 2 men (one famous and the other a fan who becomes a friend)that spans a lifetime. It is sweet, sensitive and surprising coming from that old conservative firebrand WFB.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews