Here's why:
* Novelist: He is known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "A Death in the Family" (posthumously published, based on his unfinished manuscript). His other novels include "The Morning Watch" and "The Collected Poems of James Agee".
* Essayist: Agee was a prolific essayist, and his work in this genre is often considered equally important as his novels. His essay collection "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men", a powerful and influential work about sharecroppers in the American South, is a masterpiece of the genre.
* Anthropologist: Agee's anthropological work is woven through his writing, particularly in "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men". He immersed himself in the lives of the subjects he wrote about, seeking to understand their culture and way of life.
Though not formally trained in anthropology, Agee's work demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the human condition and the cultural context that shapes it. This ability to delve into the lives of others and present them with empathy and understanding makes him a unique and remarkable figure in American literature.