The Red Badge of Courage

by Stephen Crane

1855 · 174 pages

fiction & literature
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About this book

An Apple Books Classic edition.

Henry Fleming is full of romantic notions when he signs up to join the Civil War, fighting as a Union soldier. But after seeing the horrors of his first battle, Henry tries to run away at the next one, even as he shamefully envies the other wounded soldiers their "red badges" of courage. When he gets the chance to redeem himself on the field, he does. But at what cost?

Although it was published in the 19th century, this novel was banned in schools long into the 20th for its graphic depiction of war and its violent, empty battles. It is a timeless contemplation of courage, individuality, and what it means to be a "man."

Quotes

From Wikiquote

The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. As the landscape changed from brown to green, the army awakened, and began to tremble with eagerness at the noise of rumors.
It was surprising that Nature had gone tranquilly on with her golden process in the midst of so much devilment.
At times he regarded the wounded soldiers in an envious way. He conceived persons with torn bodies to be peculiarly happy. He wished that he, too, had a wound, a red badge of courage.
The red sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer.