Who is the author of the famous slave narrative "12 Years a Slave"?

Introduction / Context:
"12 Years a Slave" is a powerful slave narrative describing the real life story of a free African American man kidnapped and sold into slavery in the United States. It has gained renewed attention through its film adaptation and is a frequent subject in literature and history related general knowledge questions. This question checks whether you know that Solomon Northup is the author and subject of this narrative.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title specified is "12 Years a Slave".
• The options include authors and public figures from different backgrounds and eras.
• The question refers to the original narrative written in the nineteenth century.
• Only one option corresponds to the person who actually experienced and recorded the events.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is recognition of major historical autobiographical narratives, especially those dealing with slavery and human rights. Solomon Northup was a free black man from New York who was kidnapped and forced into slavery for twelve years, then later regained his freedom and wrote this account. Other individuals in the options either wrote different works or are not connected with this narrative. The correct approach is to identify the person whose life story the book recounts and who is credited as its author.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that "12 Years a Slave" is presented as a first person account of an individual's twelve year bondage. Step 2: Recall that this person is Solomon Northup, whose name appears on the book and in historical references. Step 3: Consider Chetan Bhagat, a modern Indian novelist who writes contemporary fiction, not historical slave narratives. Step 4: Consider Nelson Mandela, an anti apartheid leader who wrote "Long Walk to Freedom", a different autobiography. Step 5: Consider Morarji Desai, a former Indian Prime Minister whose writings and political career are unrelated to this narrative. Step 6: Consider Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote the anti slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin", but did not author "12 Years a Slave". Step 7: Since Solomon Northup is both the central figure and the author of this book, option C is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Histories of slavery and American literature consistently identify "12 Years a Slave" as the narrative of Solomon Northup. The title page and scholarly references mention him as the author. The film adaptation also credits the story as being based on his narrative. None of the other listed individuals is ever associated with this work, which confirms that Solomon Northup is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Chetan Bhagat writes modern Indian fiction and does not appear in any historical context related to slavery in the United States. Nelson Mandela wrote an important autobiography about the struggle against apartheid, but not this narrative. Morarji Desai's life and writings are connected with Indian politics, not American slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe contributed to anti slavery literature through fiction, but "12 Years a Slave" is not her work.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be tempted to pick Harriet Beecher Stowe because she is strongly linked with anti slavery writing. Others might select Nelson Mandela simply due to his importance in human rights history. These choices reflect associative thinking rather than precise recall of book titles and authors. To avoid such errors, students should create clear mental connections between each major slave narrative and its author, including "12 Years a Slave – Solomon Northup".

Final Answer:
The book "12 Years a Slave" was written by Solomon Northup.