Priscilla Presley’s memoir, Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis, is an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a woman who, by her account, never stopped loving Elvis.

The couple divorced in 1973, after the reality of Elvis’s infidelity while on tour became too painful for Priscilla to ignore. Despite their separation, she took great pains to keep their daughter, Lisa Marie, close to her father and maintained a close friendship with her ex-husband.

Elvis Presley died at his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, on August 16, 1977. He was 42. His health had deteriorated significantly in the years before his death, amid severe long-term prescription drug use and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Long after Elvis was buried, Priscilla remained one of the strongest guardians of his legacy. She played a central role in opening Graceland to the public, helping save the property and turning it into a hugely successful tourist attraction and business.

Taken at face value, this is Priscilla’s story and that is how it reads. However, critics have questioned aspects of her account, arguing that it contradicts her earlier memoir and presents a more flattering version of her life. Her daughter’s account of her childhood is reportedly far less complimentary.

Having not read Lisa Marie’s account and knowing relatively little about the Elvis story beforehand, I do not feel I have enough context to judge between the competing versions.

What is clear is that Priscilla’s life has not been an easy ride. She has endured extraordinary loss and spent decades under intense media scrutiny. Her lifelong association with one of the world’s most famous entertainers has brought privilege and opportunity, but this memoir also portrays the heavy price of living in Elvis Presley’s shadow.