About the Author

Stephen Crane was born November 1, 1871 and raised mostly by his siblings in New Jer-
sey. He was an American novelist, poet and journalist. After attending various colleges, he trav-
eled to New York to work as a reporter. Stephen became a highly paid war correspondent writing
for William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. He wrote numerous short stories, poems and
accounts of war, but none gave him the acclaim that The Red Badge of Courage did, written in
1895. During the last year of his life he took refuge in the south of England. Plagued by exhaus-
tion and ill health, he died on June 5, 1900 at the age of 28.

Prologue

Although The Red Badge of Courage is not a true story, it is based on certain events and
battles of the Civil War. Its importance lies in the fact that it is written from a private’s point of
view. This was unusual in 1895, when the book first appeared on the scene. Up until that time,
stories about war featured officers for the most part.

Copyright © 2012
Edcon Publishing Group

The Red Badge of Courage

www.edconpublishing.com

EDEAP302
ePdf ISBN 0-8481-1121-4
ePdf ISBN 9-780848-11121-2