Misery is a personal novel for King, who once described the character of Annie Wilkes as the personification of his cocaine addiction. This emblematic King work is the story of novelist Paul Sheldon and Annie, his "biggest fan," who refuses to release him from captivity until he writes a novel that resurrects her favourite character. Annie is a horrifying villain made all the more memorable by Kathy Bates's unforgettable portrayal in the 1990 film adaptation. Misery doesn't rely on supernatural elements for its scare factor — its claustrophobic setting and an unhinged antagonist are more than enough to get under readers' skin.