Final answer:
John Steinbeck and James Agee were successful American writers of the Great Depression era, with works like The Grapes of Wrath and Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Great Depression, American writers played a crucial role in capturing the social, economic, and political upheavals of the era. John Steinbeck emerged as a prominent figure, achieving notable success with his novel "The Grapes of Wrath," which vividly portrayed the hardships faced by rural families during the Dust Bowl migration.
James Agee made significant contributions with "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men," offering commentary on social issues and the plight of sharecroppers. Additionally, writers of the Lost Generation, like F. Scott Fitzgerald, provided critical perspectives on the period preceding the economic crash, exemplified by Fitzgerald's seminal work "The Great Gatsby," which critiqued the excesses and moral decay of the Roaring Twenties. Through their literature, these writers illuminated the challenges and complexities of a nation in crisis, leaving an enduring impact on American literary and cultural history.