In Susan Sontag's second novel, DEATH KIT, first published in 1967, the mind of the protagonist, a suicide, is explored both as he kills himself and after his death. DEATH KIT, like its predecessor, THE BENEFACTOR, was a critical failure when it was published, and caused Sontag to give up novel writing for 25 years. However, it is now seen by critics as a classic of modern fiction--a brilliant, anguished look at the dark recesses of the American consciousness. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.