Question

This author published only 2 books, both of which sold poorly during his lifetime. However his reputation has grown since his death. What is the author's reputation now?

1) Highly regarded
2) Unknown
3) Critically acclaimed
4) Controversial

Answer 1

The author in question is now critically acclaimed, despite the limited success during their lifetime, similar to authors like Ernest Hemingway and Ralph Ellison, whose works received posthumous recognition and academic celebration.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question inquires about an author who published only two books during his lifetime that did not sell well, but whose reputation has grown after his death. Given the context provided, the most appropriate characterization of this author's current reputation would be that he is critically acclaimed. Literary reputation can fluctuate dramatically over time, and many authors who were not well-known or successful during their lifetimes have posthumously achieved recognition.

This phenomenon is evident in the cases of authors such as Ernest Hemingway and Ralph Ellison, who, during their lifetimes or shortly after their deaths, became literary icons. Hemingway's oeuvre, including The Old Man and the Sea, won him the Pulitzer Prize and a Nobel Prize in Literature, solidifying his status as a literary giant. Ellison, known for Invisible Man, achieved great acclaim and received the National Book Award, with his work having lasting influence in American literature. Both authors were critically acclaimed, and their works continue to be celebrated and studied in academic settings.