James Dickey

James Dickey (1923-1997) was an American poet and novelist. He gained recognition as the eighteenth United States Poet Laureate in 1966 and received the Order of the South award. Dickey is most famous for his novel Deliverance (1970), which was adapted into a highly acclaimed film in 1972. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Dickey attended North Fulton High School before completing a postgraduate year at Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. He later studied at Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina, where he played football as a tailback. Dickey's notable achievements include his contributions to American literature and his impact on the film industry with the adaptation of Deliverance.