The Comeback
Elvis and the Story of the 68 Special
Published on 23. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-1-917274-02-9 (ISBN)
Description
'An irresistible biography' Evening Standard
It remains the greatest comeback in music history. The Lazarus-like saga of Elvis Presley's fall and rise, from Army discharge through Sixties Hollywood hell to divine black-leather resurrection.
As 1968 dawns, the once 'King' of rock'n'roll faces cultural oblivion, a fading star lost in a 24/7 delirium of women, pills and holy mumbo-jumbo, isolated from an America unravelling in its own chaos of war, racism, riots and assassinations. Until, against all odds, his world and theirs collide in the performance of his life.
First published four years before Baz Luhrmann's dramatisation of events in the Oscar-nominated 2022 biopic Elvis, Simon Goddard's The Comeback is no less a vividly cinematic, pelvic-thrusting blockbuster. This Remastered edition includes a foreword from musician and journalist Bob Stanley.
It remains the greatest comeback in music history. The Lazarus-like saga of Elvis Presley's fall and rise, from Army discharge through Sixties Hollywood hell to divine black-leather resurrection.
As 1968 dawns, the once 'King' of rock'n'roll faces cultural oblivion, a fading star lost in a 24/7 delirium of women, pills and holy mumbo-jumbo, isolated from an America unravelling in its own chaos of war, racism, riots and assassinations. Until, against all odds, his world and theirs collide in the performance of his life.
First published four years before Baz Luhrmann's dramatisation of events in the Oscar-nominated 2022 biopic Elvis, Simon Goddard's The Comeback is no less a vividly cinematic, pelvic-thrusting blockbuster. This Remastered edition includes a foreword from musician and journalist Bob Stanley.
Reviews / Votes
'A fascinating exploration ... Goddard certainly has form as a music biographer, but this audacious and pacey study of The King goes further. Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the event in question, it broaches exciting new ground.' The National'This fine book more than justifies its existence... Goddard not only knows his Elvis but deftly weaves in the cultural background of the era.' MOJO
'Swerves rock-biog worthiness in favour of exhilarating novelistic daring - a hot and heavy dream of a book' Q Magazine
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
plates
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
358 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-917274-02-9 (9781917274029)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2026
Omnibus Press
€11.49
Available for download
Persons
Simon Goddard has been writing about music for nearly 30 years, both as a journalist and as the author of over a dozen books published across three continents. His Bowie Odyssey series has twice made the Sunday Times Books Of The Year (2020, 2024) while his other titles have made best-of-year lists in Mojo, Q, Uncut and Pitchfork's Top 60 Music Books Of All-Time. Simon is based in North London.