March 9, 2009
The Red Badge of Courage
Written by Stephen Crane
“He suddenly lost concern for himself, and forgot to look at a menacing fate. He became not a man but a member. He felt that something of which he was a part—a regiment, an army, a cause, or a country—was in a crisis. He was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire. For some moments he could not flee, no more than a little finger can commit a revolution from a hand.”
— Chapter 5, page 32
Fun Facts
- Crane wrote his first known story when he was just fourteen years old. It was called Uncle Jake and the Bell Handle.
- Crane was inspired to write The Red Badge of Courage by issues of Century which depicted famous battles and military leaders from the Civil War.
- The Red Badge of Courage was first published in serialized form and was an instant hit.
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