The Red Badge of Courage

2020 Reprint of the 1898 Edition. Taking place during the American Civil War the story is about a young private of the Union Army Henry Fleming who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame he longs for a wound a red badge of courage to counteract his cowardice. When his regiment once again faces the enemy Henry acts as standard-bearer who carries a flag. The first twelve chapters until he receives his accidental wound expose his cowardice. The following chapters detail his growth and apparently resulting heroism. Since the resurgence of Cranes popularity in the 1920s The Red Badge of Courage has been deemed a major American text and perhaps Cranes most important work. While modern critics have noted Cranes anticipation of the modern spectacle of war others such as Crane scholar Stanley Wertheim believe the work to be unquestionably the most realistic novel about the American Civil War.