Susan Sontag (1933–2004) was an exceptionally influential American writer and critic, celebrated for her incisive essays and novels. She rose to prominence with her groundbreaking essay "Notes on 'Camp'" in 1964, subsequently publishing major works like Against Interpretation (1966), On Photography (1977), and Illness as Metaphor (1978).

Sontag's writing extensively explored diverse subjects including literature, cinema, media, war, human rights, and left-wing politics, often sparking controversy and earning her the title "one of the most influential critics of her generation." Beyond her intellectual contributions, she was a vocal public intellectual, actively engaging with global conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Siege of Sarajevo.

Despite a challenging childhood, she found refuge in books and pursued a brilliant academic path through prestigious institutions like the University of Chicago and Harvard. She married Philip Rieff at 17, and their son, David Rieff, later became her editor and a writer himself.