Dickey, James, 1923–97, American poet and novelist, b. Atlanta. After serving in the air force during World War II, he attended Vanderbilt Univ., graduating in 1946. He was an English teacher and an advertising executive. Dickey's poetry has great energy. He made use of the ordinary in his verse, joining the natural and mechanical on such topics as war, nature, and machinery. His volumes of poetry include Into the Stone and Other Poems (1960), Buckdancer's Choice (1965), The Zodiac (1976), and Falling, May Day, Sermon, and Other Poems (1981). He is probably best known for his novel Deliverance (1969), in which a group of businessmen on a hunting trip are forced to fight for their lives. He also wrote the screenplay for the film version (1972). His nonfiction includes Self-Interviews (1970) and several works of criticism.

Bibliography

See H. Hart, ed., The James Dickey Reader (1999), M. J. Bruccoli and J. S. Baughman, ed., Crux: The Letters of James Dickey (1999); biography by H. Hart (2000); studies by R. Baughman (1985) and N. Bowers (1985).

Dickey, James (Lafayette)

(born Feb. 2, 1923, Atlanta, Ga., U.S.—died Jan. 19, 1997, Columbia, S.C.) U.S. poet, novelist, and critic. Dickey served as a pilot in World War II. His poetry—published in such volumes as Into the Stone (1960), Drowning with Others (1962), Helmets (1964), Buckdancer's Choice (1965), and The Zodiac (1976)—combines themes of nature mysticism, religion, and history. He became widely known with his powerful novel Deliverance (1970; film, 1972).

Dickey, James (Lafayette) (1923– ) poet, writer; born in Atlanta, Ga. He studied at Vanderbilt (B.A. 1949; M.A. 1950), worked in advertising, was consultant to the Library of Congress (1966–68), and taught at many institutions, including the University of South Carolina (1969). He is known for his metaphysical poetry, as in Buckdancer's Choice (1965), and his award-winning novel, Deliverance (1970).