The Red Badge of Courage

The Red Badge of Courage, is the realistic and shocking story of the Civil War seen through the eyes of a young soldier. An ordinary farm boy, Henry Fleming, has romantic illusions about life and death on the battlefield, but once he confronts the harsh brutality of war, his fears dominate and cowardice prevails. Ultimately, Henry redeems himself by turning his fear into his strength and becomes a true hero. Written by Stephen Crane at the age of twenty one, this novel is one of the greatest war novels of all time.