modifiers

[sandeep_thaparianz]

The author Herman Melville and the poet Walt Whitman are icons of American literature,
greatly beloved by generations past and present.
"¢ The author Herman Melville and the poet Walt Whitman are icons
"¢ Herman Melville the author and Walt Whitman the poet are icons
"¢ The author named Herman Melville and the poet named Walt Whitman are great icons
"¢ The author, Herman Melville, and the poet, Walt Whitman, are icons
"¢ Herman Melville, the author, and Walt Whitman, the poet, had been icons

OA after some discussion.

[shekhar.kataria]

IMO A. It is the correct representation in a case where a person is modified by his occupation. There is no need of any comma between his profession and his name.

The author Herman Melville and the poet Walt Whitman are icons of American literature,
greatly beloved by generations past and present.
"¢ The author Herman Melville and the poet Walt Whitman are icons
"¢ Herman Melville the author and Walt Whitman the poet are icons
"¢ The author named Herman Melville and the poet named Walt Whitman are great icons
"¢ The author, Herman Melville, and the poet, Walt Whitman, are icons
"¢ Herman Melville, the author, and Walt Whitman, the poet, had been icons

OA after some discussion.

[kulhot]

IMO B.

Am I right?

[sandeep_thaparianz]

A is the OA

B is wrong because the author is non essential modifier hence needs to be offset by commas. Likewise the poet modifies Walt Whitman. Again it is acting as a non essential modifier.

If in last option had been is replaced by are then it is grammatically correct.