Deliverance

First published in 1955, Deliverance is the story of Georgie Bagshawe, a gentle, inoffensive young man brought up in an orphanage, who inherits his Aunt Butters's shop. From humble beginnings he becomes prosperous and respected until he makes an unwise marriage with Grace. Slowly he is crushed, put upon and goaded, while all he has inherited is filched away from him. Yet all this he would have borne but for a chance meeting with Ruth in a teashop when he suddenly realizes how desperate his marriage predicament has become. And when, over and above this, Grace keeps him from sharing the last hours of his Uncle Eddie, hatred takes the place of mere dislike, and the path to danger is uncovered.

At which point the story turns with an unexpected twist...