Published in 1895,
Stephen Crane's epic novel of young Henry Fleming, a
soldier in the American
Civil War, who at first harbors
romantic illusions of
war, but becomes enraged at the injustice of war after witnessing the horrors of it firsthand. Considered a
masterpiece of literature and the also the first modern war
novel,
author Stephen Crane wrote it with no first hand knowledge of war, but instead relied on
anthology texts to paint his vivid depiction of the war.
The 'red badge of courage' is a euphemism for a wound suffered in battle.