Who is the author of the political work "The Rights of Man"?

Introduction / Context:
"The Rights of Man" is a key text in political thought and the history of democratic ideas. General knowledge exams frequently ask which writer authored it, because it links directly to debates on liberty, human rights, and revolution. This question tests knowledge of enlightenment era thinkers and ensures that students can connect the title with the correct author, Thomas Paine.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The book title is "The Rights of Man".
• The options are all writers whose names start with Thomas or other thinkers, creating deliberate confusion.
• The question refers to the original author of this political work, not editors or commentators.
• Only one name is historically correct for this title.

Concept / Approach:
The concept being tested is basic awareness of enlightenment political literature. Thomas Paine was a political activist and pamphleteer who supported the American and French revolutions. "The Rights of Man" defends the French Revolution and criticises monarchy and hereditary government. The approach is to recall this association and separate it from other authors who share the first name Thomas but wrote in different genres or time periods.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that "The Rights of Man" is a classic of political philosophy, not a novel or poem. Step 2: Recall that Thomas Paine wrote influential pamphlets such as "Common Sense" and later "The Rights of Man". Step 3: Examine the options. Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet known for works like "Tess of the d Urbervilles". Step 4: Thomas Mann was a German novelist associated with "Buddenbrooks" and "The Magic Mountain". Step 5: Thomas Moore is usually remembered as a poet and songwriter and is not connected with this famous political work. Step 6: Thomas Paine, however, was a revolutionary thinker and is strongly associated with "The Rights of Man". Step 7: John Stuart Mill is another political philosopher, but his major works include "On Liberty" and "Utilitarianism", not the book in the question. Step 8: Therefore, the correct answer is Thomas Paine.

Verification / Alternative Check:
To verify this choice, you can recall standard history or political science textbooks that present Thomas Paine as a defender of human rights and democratic government. Many exam oriented guides list "The Rights of Man – Thomas Paine" in their books and authors section. None of the other listed authors are ever paired with this specific title in authoritative references. This cross check confirms that only Thomas Paine matches the book named in the question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thomas Hardy wrote realist novels of rural life and personal tragedy, not radical political pamphlets about rights and revolutions. Thomas Mann is known for modernist German novels analysing bourgeois society and psychology, not this English language political work. Thomas Moore is notable as a poet and songwriter, and there is no major political treatise by him with this title. John Stuart Mill was indeed a political thinker, but his key works have different titles and themes.

Common Pitfalls:
A common trap is to choose any familiar sounding "Thomas" without remembering which works that person actually wrote. Exam setters deliberately group authors with similar names to test accurate recall, not mere recognition. Another mistake is to confuse "The Rights of Man" with other political works such as "On Liberty", which belong to different authors. A focused list of political philosophy classics and their writers helps avoid such confusion in exams.

Final Answer:
The book "The Rights of Man" was written by Thomas Paine.