Who is the author of the book "All Under Heaven"?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to international literature and asks about the authorship of the book "All Under Heaven". Many competitive exams include questions on books that explore Asian cultures, history, and society, especially when written by internationally recognised authors. Pearl S. Buck is one such author known for her deep engagement with China and Asia in her novels and non fiction works. Correctly identifying her as the author of "All Under Heaven" shows awareness of cross cultural literary contributions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The book title given is "All Under Heaven". • Four prominent international writers are listed as options. • Only one of them actually wrote this book. • The question focuses on author identification, not on summarising the content. • We assume a basic knowledge of major twentieth century authors and their themes.

Concept / Approach:
Pearl S. Buck won the Nobel Prize in Literature and is renowned for her novels and essays about Chinese life and culture, such as "The Good Earth". The title "All Under Heaven" reflects an Asian concept often used to describe the world or empire. This thematic connection aligns with Buck's interest in Asian societies. Sidney Sheldon wrote popular thrillers, D. H. Lawrence explored human relationships and psychology, and George Bernard Shaw was a playwright. Recognising each author's main body of work allows you to match "All Under Heaven" correctly with Pearl S. Buck.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Observe that the phrase "All Under Heaven" hints at an Asian worldview, which connects well with Pearl S. Buck's focus on China. 2. Recall that Pearl S. Buck wrote several books that blended storytelling with cultural analysis of Asian societies. 3. Examine option a, Pearl S. Buck, and associate her name with the given title. 4. Consider option b, Sidney Sheldon, whose novels are contemporary thrillers and romantic suspense stories, very different in tone and content. 5. Consider option c, D. H. Lawrence, known for psychological and social novels such as "Sons and Lovers" and "Lady Chatterley's Lover", not for books on Asian civilizations with this title. 6. Consider option d, George Bernard Shaw, a playwright famous for satirical plays, not for a book titled "All Under Heaven". 7. Conclude that Pearl S. Buck is the only author whose known themes and works match the given book.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by recalling reading lists or references to Pearl S. Buck's works on Asia. Guides to her writing often mention books that carry titles related to Chinese philosophy and society. On the other hand, bibliographies of Sidney Sheldon, D. H. Lawrence, and George Bernard Shaw do not contain "All Under Heaven", and their main genres are thrillers, psychological novels, and plays respectively. This clear separation in subject matter confirms that option a is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Sidney Sheldon wrote commercial thrillers and romantic suspense novels, not this culturally focused book. • D. H. Lawrence concentrated on intimate human relationships and English society, and his list of works does not include "All Under Heaven". • George Bernard Shaw is remembered for plays like "Pygmalion" and "Man and Superman", not for this type of prose work.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may guess based on fame without considering genres. Because Sidney Sheldon and George Bernard Shaw are very popular names, exam takers may choose them even when the title and theme suggest otherwise. Another mistake is to overlook Pearl S. Buck despite her strong association with Asian themes, simply because her works may be less frequently mentioned in everyday conversation. To avoid such errors, keep in mind that "All Under Heaven" fits naturally with Pearl S. Buck's focus on Asia.

Final Answer:
The book "All Under Heaven" was written by Pearl S. Buck.