Best Answer Explained in Below-:

The correct answer to the question regarding the author of the novel "The Good Earth" is C) Pearl S. Buck. Published in 1931, "The Good Earth" is one of Buck's most recognized works and played a significant role in her rise to fame. The novel is set in China and explores the life of a Chinese farmer, Wang Lung, as he navigates the socio-economic landscapes of rural China.

Pearl S. Buck was an American author and activist who lived in China for much of her early life, which profoundly influenced her writing. Her experiences allowed her to authentically depict Chinese culture, traditions, and the struggles faced by its people during the early 20th century. "The Good Earth" not only highlights the themes of poverty, wealth, and the connection to the land but also earned Buck the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1932 and contributed to her receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938. In contrast, authors like Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy, while significant literary figures, are known for their works focused on British society and culture, and Ben Jonson was a playwright and poet from an earlier era. Thus, the choice of Pearl S. Buck is justified by her direct connection to the novel's themes and setting.