Sentence Correction

Selling several hundred thousand copies in six months,
the publication of "Maple Leaf Rag" in 1899 was an
instant hit, helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.

(A) Selling several hundred thousand copies in six
months, the publication of "Maple Leaf Rag"
in 1899 was an instant hit, helping to establish
Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime
composer.
(B) The publication in 1899 of "Maple Leaf Rag"
was an instant hit: in six months they sold
several hundred thousand copies and it helped
establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime
composer.
(C)) Helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preemi
nent ragtime composer was the publication of
"Maple Leaf Rag" in 1899, which was an
instant hit: it sold several hundred thousand
copies in six months.
(D) "Maple Leaf Rag" was an instant hit: it helped
establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent agtime
composer, published in 1899 and selling sev-
eral hundred thousand copies in six months.
(E) Published in 1899, "Maple Leaf Rag" was an
instant hit, selling several hundred thousand
copies in six months: it helped establish Scott
Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.

i narrowed down to D and E and chose the one which was happened to be correct , but not able to give reason for the wrong one . can any one help. i will post the OA later . pls provide reason for rejecting the choice