Why authors set out to shock

Most of us have, at some point, come away from a book, movie, or TV show and wondered how in the heck someone’s mind conjured up such disturbing images and events.

Sometimes that’s the reaction we hope to have; other times, it’s an unpleasant surprise.

The Guardian spoke with several authors whose works have made such a splash, including Bret Easton Ellis, Leïla Slimani, Hanya Yanagihara, and Gabriel Tallent.

So, if you’re seeking the answer to “how could they — or why would they — write that?”, head over to the Guardian to hear it.