The Red Badge of Courage

Stephen Crane wasn’t a well-known writer when The Red Badge of Courage was first published; but after its release, he gained fame and status practically overnight. It seemed that most people either loved or hated the book; there was no shade of gray. Many people were confused and puzzled about how Crane could write in such great detail about a war he never experienced and the account actually be accurate. They did not understand where he received all his facts and “public interest often focused on his personal life--his bohemian lifestyle” (Knopf). The reviews for his book varied greatly and it seemed that it was the first real historically correct and in depth war novel. He set the standard for our modern day books. The Red Badge of Courage was very edgy for its day and was different from all the other war stories. He chose to reveal that not every soldier