The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
"The Red Badge of Courage" is a novel set during the American Civil War, focusing on a young private in the Union Army 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, he acts as the standard-bearer, proving his courage. The book explores the themes of heroism, manhood, and the illusion versus reality of war.
The 680th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 32nd on D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels (D. G. Myers)
- 45th on Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century (themodernnovel.com)
- 58th on The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time (The Novel 100)
- Great Books (The Learning Channel)
- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written (Easton Press)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers (The College Board, an American not-for-profit organization)
- Books That Shaped America (Library of Congress)
- Masterpieces of World Literature (Frank N. Magill)
- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics (Book)