Deliverance

By: James Dickey

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

The smash-hit best seller that inspired the acclaimed 1972 film starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox is now available in unabridged audio for the very first time.

The setting is the Georgia wilderness, where the state's most remote white-water river awaits. In the thundering froth of that river, in its echoing stone canyons, four men on a canoe trip discover a freedom and exhilaration beyond compare. And then, in a moment of horror, the adventure turns into a struggle for survival as one man becomes a human hunter who is offered his own harrowing deliverance.

This classic tale is vividly read by movie and TV star and Audie Award-winning narrator Will Patton.

©1970 James Dickey (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

100 Best Novels ( The Modern Library)

All-Time 100 Novels ( Time)

"Will Patton's narration is nothing short of haunting. His Southern tone steadily declines from that of a man pondering all that is possible in the world to that of a shattered soul." ( AudioFile)

Untamed Unreal Unbelievable Marrying Man to River

I've seen the movie a couple of times . . . it doesn't do the book justice. This audio version of Deliverance is absolutely one of the best books I've ever listened to. The narration is perfect. The story of four "city" men going into the untamed hills of Georgia to canoe down uncharted parts of a river is not too far fetched, and neither are the tales of country wildmen hunting down and abusing the "intruders". If you don't listen to the book, you will miss the relationship that forms between the man and the river and the hills that surround it. The things that cannot be taught to a person, but must be experienced . . .

Will Patton does a great book proud

Will Patton seems a better narrator than actor. He does a great job bringing this story to life.

Watching the movie is not enough.

Any additional comments?

This is a book about men, for men. It is a story about an ordinary group of men who have an extraordinary experience and how one man comes to terms with a horrible situation and becomes a man, even when he thought he already was one. This is a great story, but it is also so well written and so well told (Will Patton- incredible) that you will be transported to the story and forget where you are. I listen to these books in my car, and I can say that many miles disappeared from me for most of the time I listened. This story, this reader, bring it all home to you. Deliverance is first class entertainment, which constantly challenges you to ask yourself 'what would I do?'

Just "Amazing"

I read this many years ago and was blown away then by the way it was written.
Well Traveling this same journey again via audiobook was nothing short of amazing.
The Narration blew me away. Will Patton, you were fantastic!!!
Do not pass this by...

One of my all-time favorites

Deliverance has been one of my favorite novels since reading it as a teenager. To hear it may even surpass the experience of reading it. The poetic nature of Dickey's prose comes across so much more in the audible format. Deliverance rightly holds a place in the list of the 100 best novels.

Exciting read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Although I had seen the movie many years ago, the book was riveting and had some unexpected twists that delighted me. Will Patton is one of my favorite readers, and with Deliverance, he did not disappoint. Action, suspense, and courage are woven into a timeless tale.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deliverance?

One of my favorite moments in this book was Ed's awakening as he blends into the mist stalking his first deer. That scene outlines the awakening courage and determination that belongs only to this quiet, determined man. From out of the mist, he becomes a warrior.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Will Patton is captivating in his ability to tell a story. His voice is pleasing to the ear and he has the story-tellers uncanny skill at making you forget that you are listening and begin only to see the tale unfold.

Who was the most memorable character of Deliverance and why?

Ed was my favorite character in this story. While he is not much to look upon, he has a compassionate heart, a grounded sense of self, and a raw courage that enables him to survive and lead others to safety.

I think it's a duty to write this review

Where does Deliverance rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top Tier

What did you like best about this story?

The writing - the narration

Which scene was your favorite?

The description of the climb to the cliff to kill the assassin

Who was the most memorable character of Deliverance and why?

All of them

Any additional comments?

Maybe 600 - maybe 700 Audible books. I've spent a fortune and gained indescribable pleasure, learning, entertainment, accompaniment.
But this one is so good I stopped and booted up just to tell you about it. And NO I won't read another review in order to not be influenced.

James Dickey's words are poetry to me as those that flow from the pen of Ray Bardbury, or Toni Morrison. As I was listening to the book I thought: I must see this movie again. It's been more than 30 years and it was good! As I kept listening and realizing the depth of emotion, and the descriptive depth of humanity in the characters was way too deep and way too rich and startling in their honesty to ever have come through on film.

Bottom line:
Read it for the ongoing poem of a story that it is, filled with wonder - excitement - terror - and redemption. And along the way, in its perfection, laud the narrator. He has got the full picture, and he brings it to you in a way that rivets you. A masterpiece of narration.

NO, I won't see the movie any time soon. Because first, I have to re-listen to what I just tried to describe.
This book is perfect on all fronts.
I'm enriched.

An excellent read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - This is a classic book that everyone should read. The imagery, style and plot make for a great story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deliverance?

The most memorable moment was when Ed discovers the man he shot might not be the man that he was looking for. This was an unexpected turn, and I was able to feel the same devastation he was feeling.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

My favorite character was Ed. Will Patton portrays Ed perfectly, and you can relate to his character.

If you could take any character from Deliverance out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would take Ed because he is a good man.

Moves as rapidly as the river they are running

This story of four friends on a wilderness camping trip, canoeing a Georgia river made a gripping motion picture. The book has all of the adventure that made the film so memorable but it has something more more because the written characterizations and the motivations of the four friends are complex and very real. Dickey writes with understanding, verve and even compassion about brutality and the nature of masculinity.

Influenced too much by the movie

If I hadn't seen the movie I probably would have enjoyed this book more. That's not to say I didn't like it. I did like it. The movie, or at least my memory of the movie, seemed more exciting. There were parts that were nearly identical but the book had more of what was going through the characters minds - more big picture philosophical views. Naturally, that's hard to translate to the screen so the movie feels more gritty.