2. For all his professed disdain of such activities, Auden was an inveterate literary

[nick_zen]

2. For all his professed disdain of such activities, Auden was an inveterate literary gossip.
(A) For all his professed disdain of such activities
(B) Having always professed disdain for such activities
(C) All such activities were, he professed, disdained, and
(D) Professing that all such activities were disdained
(E) In spite of professions of disdaining all such activities

please let me line of reasoning and answer.

[KillGmat]

IMO A

Auden was an inveterate literary gossip..why? For all his professed disdain of such activities..

[defylogic]

For all means inspite of.
Only A makes sense suggesting that even though Auden claimed disliking such activities(as gossiping), he was an inveterate (habitual) literary gossip

[nick_zen]

Originally Posted by defylogic

For all means inspite of.
Only A makes sense suggesting that even though Auden claimed disliking such activities(as gossiping), he was an inveterate (habitual) literary gossip

thanks for the explanation

[mannu08]

IMO answer is A.

after killgmat explanation, my answer has become more stronger.
thanks for adding value here.

[scorpion.ks]

Agreed with A. I concur with defylogic

"for all" = "despite"