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48 pages 1 hour read

Deliverance

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1970

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Book Brief

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James Dickey

Deliverance

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1970
Book Details
Pages

278

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Georgia Wilderness • 1970s

Publication Year

1970

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Deliverance by James Dickey, four urban friends—Ed, Lewis, Drew, and Bobby—embark on a canoe trip down the remote Cahulawassee river, aiming to experience the wilderness before it is dammed. Their adventure takes a dark turn when they encounter violent locals, leading to a harrowing struggle for survival against nature and human threats. The book contains graphic scenes of violence and sexual assault.

Suspenseful

Dark

Adventurous

Challenging

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.1

33,009 ratings

69%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

James Dickey’s Deliverance captivates readers with its intense narrative and richly detailed setting, making it a powerful exploration of survival and human nature. Positive reviews commend the novel's visceral prose and psychological depth. However, some critics find the violent scenes unsettling and the pacing inconsistent. Overall, it’s a gripping, though sometimes disturbing, read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Deliverance?

Readers who relish intense, psychological thrillers with elements of survival and moral quandaries will appreciate James Dickey’s Deliverance. Fans of Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men and Peter Benchley’s Jaws will find the harrowing journey and deep character introspection compelling and thought-provoking.

4.1

33,009 ratings

69%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

278

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Georgia Wilderness • 1970s

Publication Year

1970

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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