when it comes to things to shudder about, poe pulls out all the stops here- being buried alive, starvation, overwhelming thirst, ritual murder, cannibalism, insanity, etc.
mixing factual and fantastical elements, this rich little novel is on the surface a gothic tale of seafaring adventure. but it is so filled with haunting images of suffering and amazing, fantastic discoveries it burrows into your subconcious.
the wonderfully inconclusive termination of the narrative further adds to the feeling of awe.