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)

Be prepared

This was so much more than I expected. I figured it was going to be a action/suspense type book but it turned into an incredible character study. Sure there is suspense and action but that is not the main theme.
Four friends go on a canoe trip to an uncharted river through a gorge and rapids. Inexperience, testosterone, and the chance to experience the wild. This weekend trip turns into an experience that will last a lifetime, well, at least the scars will.
I made some parallels to Stephen King’s The Long Walk with this book mainly due to the main characters thought process and with no option to turn around once begun.

When Master Author Meets Master Narrator

I've listened to half a dozen Will Patton narrations - he is my absolute favorite narrator ever. He always brings such commitment, artistry, and most of all - INTELLIGENCE - to his readings. But what you are looking at here is pure gold, my friends. This is the meeting of masters. James Dickey's novel Deliverance is more than a book linked to a well-known movie. It is the most well written and intelligent American thriller of the last century. I'm not just blowing smoke: this book is literature - one of the Time 100 and voted 42 on Modern Library's list of greatest novels of the 20th century. So don't buy this thinking you're getting you're usual paint-by-numbers pulp -- no. This requires intent listening. But my goodness, this book will pay off tenfold. Will Patton is so good here, I am simply in awe. I envy you who are about to read this for the first time.

A transformative BADA$$ novel.

What could be better? A story about 4 men, 2 canoes and one river. A transformative, bada$$ novel. At one level simple, but the water of this novel runs DEEP.

Excellent Performance

I was glad to see this book come to audible. I actually looked for it a few months ago. At times the action seems as fast paced as the river. There were a few times where I would have preferred to stop and re-read (or re listen) to parts of the book. The reader was excellent for this book, although he did seem a bit more country than perhaps the voice I would have expected from a city dwelling artsy type of guy as the lead character is portrayed. The book is a relatively quick listen, and there are enough twists and turns to keeps you going.

Leaving the country of the nine fingered people.

Would you listen to Deliverance again? Why?

Yes, this is one of those performances that you could listen to any time you wanted. The prose is beautiful and Will Patton's accents and cadence are perfect.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, I saw the movie years ago, but wasn't sure of the ending. This ending was exacting and though provoking and to think this was a first novel!

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

He is a master of the speech patterns of the deep south. The lazy drawls, the unique wording and the wonderful descriptions that encompass James Dickey's book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

It was a classic movie in 1972. If made today I would say, "Survival is all that matters."

Any additional comments?

The beautiful imagery of this book is truly captured in Mr. Patton's voice. "I was leaving the land of the nine-fingered people to return to the home of the Whopper."

“I was standing in the most absolute aloneness that I had ever been given.”

This book was told in the first person. You know exactly what Ed is thinking every moment of the story, that is something that is missing from the movie but what makes it perfect for an audiobook.

I can't recommend this book enough. Don't miss it!

As riveting as the movie!

This novel of survival on the river is every bit as great as the classic movie. Told in the first person, narrated by Will Patton, this story goes deeply into the decisions of life-and-death survival against the elements and crazed hillbillies. This is a scary and engaging story that I could not turn off. When I finished, I had to watch the movie. "Dueling Banjos" is the one thing that the book fails to capture as well or better than the movie. Despite this being a short audiobook, it contained so much depth that the movie did not have. If this genre appeals to you, I strongly recommend Deliverance.

The Best of 39 Books This Year

What made the experience of listening to Deliverance the most enjoyable?

Will Patton really delivered on this performance. He took me to that river. I killed a man.

What other book might you compare Deliverance to and why?

The Road-- while the road is a bit more disturbing, the element of survival, dark narrative, and descriptive language is a fitting match.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

What is not to like.

Any additional comments?

To my great surprise, out of the 39 books I have finished this year, Deliverance was the best-- powerful descriptive language worthy of anyones time. The movie does not compare

A visceral, compelling tale.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would. It's a modern classic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deliverance?

Anyone who has seen the excellent John Boorman film adaptation will be familiar with the chilling rape scene. The film is an excellent interpretation of what is on the page. The sudden random, violent and senseless nature of the event is perfectly conveyed here.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Patton is one of the finest character actors in film today. His smokey, refined Southern accent captures the slightly ethereal quality of the story. Reducing his vocal performance to a mere whisper at times, he captures the terror and confusion of the story's narrator-protagonist Ed Gentry. In portraying the book's various characters, from the borderline psychotic suburban survivalist Lewis Medlock, to the anonymous woodsmen accosting the principal players, he imbues each with a distinctive voice and accent that never veers into comic piss-taking.

Was Deliverance worth the listening time?

Deliverance may seem dated now, but its themes are eerily current and the book retains a sense of impending menace throughout. That said, a story that is, in essence, a taught psychological thriller centering on man's ability to push himself beyond the bounds of civilisation and endurance is ruined somewhat in the first half by Dickey's penchant for indulgent, circular and, occasionally, boring introspection. The build-up to the ill-fated camping trip crawls by, with the listener's attention likely to drift more than once. Fortunately everything improves in the second half and, one tortuous description of climbing a rock face aside, the tale is saved by some truly thrilling story-telling.

Amazing!

Fantastic book. The author is a true craftsman. The story is rich and compelling, and the narrator is an outsanding performer. I usually don't read this sort of "outdoor adventure turns wrong" book, but I loved it. You cannot go wrong with this.

Best book yet!

Much better than the movie (seemed like almost a different story). You really feel like you are there.