Horror might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay. The genre has fallen victim to epic cheesiness of the cheapest and most inauthentic variety. It’s really enough to give true lovers of the arts a heart attack. Thus, I have decided to present a list of 5 horrifying books (by authors other than the immortal Poe) that should appeal to even those who don’t especially fancy horror: The beauty of their language and profundity contained, even in the occasional midst of grotesquerie and hedonism, should be enough to dazzle any semi-intelligent lifeform. Horror comes in all kinds, including existential and moral, thus I believe it would be pointless to simply focus on literal monsters.

An honorable mention must be given to Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue (1791) by the infamous Marquis de Sade, who spent a good portion of his life imprisoned. This milestone played a role in getting its author locked up for the final time in 1801 on Napoleon’s wretched orders.…