Chattooga: Descending Into the Myth of Deliverance River

By John Lane

Book Overview

Before the novel and the film Deliverance appeared in the early 1970s, any outsiders one met along the Chattooga River were likely serious canoeists or anglers. In later years, untold numbers and kinds of people have felt the draw of the river's torrents, which pour down the Appalachians along the Georgia-South Carolina border. Because of Deliverance the Chattooga looms enigmatically in our shared imagination, as iconic as Twain's Mississippi--or maybe Conrad's Congo.

This is John Lane's search for the real Chattooga--for the truths that reside somewhere in the river's rapids, along its shores, or in its travelers' hearts. Lane balances the dark, indifferent mythical river of Deliverance against the Chattooga known to locals and to the outdoors enthusiasts who first mastered its treacherous vortices and hydraulics. Starting at its headwaters, Lane leads us down the river and through its complex history to its current status as a National Wild and Scenic River. Along the way he stops for talks with conservation activists, seventh-generation residents, locals who played parts in the movie, day visitors, and others. Lane weaves into each encounter an abundance of details drawn from his perceptive readings and viewings of Deliverance and his wide-ranging knowledge of the Chattooga watershed. At the end of his run, Lane leaves us still fully possessed by the Chattooga's mystery, yet better informed about its place in his world and ours.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0820327751
• ISBN13: 9780820327754
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Chatooga, a flowing book

Chatooga is a flowing book - pun intended. John Lanetalks about the effect of the book Deliveranceand the movie on the people living around the Chatoogain North Georgia. He talks to the people,he hikes on the banks of the river and he kayaks the river.This is a personal book, as much about Lane asabout the river. A good read!

Traveling the River with John Lane

Once again, John Lane has succeeded in writing a book that really connects with the regular fan of the wilderness with a desire to read. As a person that grew up in the area of the Chattooga, and have rafted the river myself, John's insights and stories were wonderfully written and a treat to have read. John Lane is the writer of my people.

John Lane...A Man's Man

John Lane has done it again... John never siezes to amaze me with his timeless writings. John Lane paints the most vivid pictures with his words. In all my years I have never read such brilliant literature. This book really hit home with me. All my life I've traveled on rivers, namely the Chattooga. The rhythmic beauty of its current is captured in John Lane's words. I am haunted by waters.