‘Deliverance’ Author James Dickey Dies

James Dickey, poet and author whose works included the novels “Deliverance” and “To the White Sea,” died Sunday night. He was 73.

Dickey, who had been hospitalized since Wednesday, had died of complications from lung disease.

Dickey was most well known for “Deliverance.” The 1970 book received the French Prix Medicis in 1971 and in 1972 was made into a movie.

Dickey said he only wrote novels to pay the bills. His first love was poetry. “Poetry is the center of the creative wheel,” he said.

His collection of poems “Buckdancer’s Choice” won the 1966 National Book Award for poetry.

“Somebody asked me once what my favorite poem of mine was. And I say that’s like being asked which of your children is your favorite - you do have one, but you ain’t sayin’.”