The Red Badge of Courage Paperback – December 23, 2011

It may be dated but it describes the impact of war on the soldier. A simple but effective message.

Unlike many others I was never required to read "The Red Badge of Courage" in High School. When I saw that it was among the many other classics that are now available for free on the Kindle I happily took the opportunity to read it; I am glad that I did.There are plenty of reviews of the novel itself on the print version, so first a note about the Kindle Edition of this book: I found no typos or poor formatting of the text throughout the Kindle Edition, which is a nice change from many of the other free classics. The only problem with this edition is that the table of contents does not work. It looks as if it should, but it is apparently just a large image within the text file, instead of clickable links to the relevant sections of the book. This is not a big deal, but it is always nice to have a working table of contents for reference.As for the story: The Red Badge of Courage tells the story of Henry, often referred to as the "Youth," and his transformation over the course of a few days. Considering the author never fought in a war, his reflections on the the way battles can change a person are truly insightful, and at times even breath-taking. Stephen Crane also had a talent for describing the world around Henry allowing the reader to feel as if they are in the novel. The book is quite short, but Crane does a great job developing Henry's character. As Henry goes from scared, to terrified, to arrogant, and eventually humble, you find yourself actively liking and disliking Henry through his transformation, as if you were there.There are two particular literary devices Crane uses that I particularly enjoyed and make the novel poetic at times. First, almost all of the characters have both a name and them also a character description. For example, Henry is "the Youth," he has a friend "the loud youngster" and so on for all the main characters. This reinforces the idea that this is not just a book about a particular person or group of people, but about people in general. The second device is the way Crane uses common themes. So, the word red is used an adjective of the novel, just as it is in the title. Or, another example, Henry is walking through the woods that remind him of a chapel: from that moment there is a chorus, steeple, etc., used as adjectives and metaphors for the next few pages. This is truly poetic.I am grateful that there are teams of volunteers that put this material together and release it for free for the Kindle. The Red Badge of Courage was a quick and entertaining read: if, like me, you did not have the chance to read it when you were younger I would certainly recommend it.

I Loved it.....I Was Under The impression this Was A Recently Enjoyed Book(Used).... However.... Upon Arrival..... It Was Brandy New....!! Thank You Amazon You Are Awesome At What You Do..!!

The Red Badge of Courage, by Stephen Crane, is the story of a Henry Fleming, a teenager from Illinois who joins the Illinois 304th regiment after hearing countless tales of heroism and bravery told by Civil War veterans who passed through his town. Wishing not to be left out, he enlists to fight as well, but the 304th spends a long winter and a part of the spring camped in the hills doing nothing. When they finally prepare for battle, Henry has serious doubts about the level of his bravery and whether or not he will stay and see through the fighting. In his first battle, his doubts are substantiated, and he deserts the battle. Determined to never show such fear again, he decides to never desert again and to die - to display the 'red badge of courage' - if need be. He stays true to his commitment and in his next several battles he fights very well, even recieving a commendation for his bravery; however, he cannot forget the shame from his first battle until much later. Stephen Crane wrote one of the most exciting Civil War tales of all time; the book is the kind that is so interesting that one does not wish to put it down. It is short and easy enough for any literate child to read and adults will also enjoy it. The books twenty-four chapters vary significantly in length but have one common theme they are alled filled with exciting tales and vivid descriptions, exemplified perfectly by the first by the first few lines: The cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogs revealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. As the landscape changed from brown to green, the army awakened, and began to tremble with eagerness at the noise of rumors. It cast its eyes upon the roads, which were growing from long troughs of liquid mud to proper thoroughfares. A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become of a sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleam of hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.

This novel is the fictionalized story of a young man who enlists in the Federal Army in the midst of the American Civil War (1860-1865). The boys illusions about himself and warfare are shattered during his first battle as he runs from battle in fear for his life. The story recounts his struggle to come to grips with himself in order to overcoming his fears and redeem himself through heroic actions during a subsequent battle. Despite the fact the author never experienced combat I believe that the battle descriptions serve as a bench marks for all war novels.This book was a exceptional read, a true example of the great "Classic American Novel", truly one of the top 100 novels ever written. I read it once before, while in high school, as part of an assignment designed to teach students about great novels. I recall enjoying the experience, but by no measure did I really understand how remarkable, how eloquent a testemant to letters and reading this book trully stands. I think my improved understanding of this book comes from my many years of life experiences, includiing my years as a warrior, coupled by the many years of reading I've completed. The author's beautifule prose, the narrative, the pacing of the story, the author's ability to capture the humanity of characters, all of these factors and more have created this masterpiece. Almost everyone would enjoy reading this book! It is not simply a war story, it is a story about growing up, and facing whatever life throws at you.

This is the best story I have read about the fear, futility, and fury of war - the American Civil War - but it could be about any battle, anywhere, anytime. It takes place entirely in the head of a young soldier and explores in exquisite and imaginative detail his thoughts about both his cowardice and his heroism. The author, Stephen Crane, had never experienced battle, yet his central character's thoughts and actions are entirely credible. It makes the posturing of Hemingway's writing look hollow. Ford Madox Ford's quartet about the First World War, Parade's End, is also a classic of war fiction, and he experienced the real thing.

This is the famous America war story written in 1895 by Crane. The introductory notes make the point that Stephen had no first hand experience of war to write such an eloquent image of war. I understand this is often a school set-textThis is the shortish story of Henry Fleming a youthful, novice soldier in a Union regiment. The story starts with him at the front worrying about his fears - he hopes to be a hero. However on his first encounter, though he starts off enthusiastically he runs away. He ends up in a column of injured soldiers, though he is not hurt himself; we are given an insight on how people/Henry justify themselves. An incident occurs on his return to his unit which unheroically gives him a head wound. Does this undeserved `red badge on honour' fire up Henry to great fighting heroism?What more can I say that hasn't already been said really. What a depiction of the mind of a soldier. It would be very unfair to criticise because it really is an amazing, fast paced in depth analysis of this particular imagined soldier under threat, his colleagues, the actions and fury of war.I'm going to give the story four stars, but here's where I worry: The story is very short perhaps if it had been packaged with an intro to Henry's pre-war life and his family (he doesn't have a single thought for them) and a little on the outcome for him (perhaps where he ended up) the events depicted might have more relevance (c.f. Zola's Debarcle). The war is wonderfully portrayed with an exceptional turn of phrase but the fighting itself is not written very graphically/brutally perhaps Crane held back here. Finally I worry that, as the thoughts of Henry thinking of his war are imagined, and we all generally agree they're fantastically realised, we're just wrongly `agreeing' with Crane - perhaps a real youth at the front worries about losing his virginity, what he'll do back at home, his last conversation with his Dad, being cold or hungry or indeed nothing at all; perhaps his heroism and flag waving is less about himself but much more about the love of his friends.Here are some quotes:He vaguely desired to walk around and around the body and stare; the impulse of the living to try and read in dead eyes the answer to the Question.They moved their stiffened bodies slowly, and watched in sullen mood the frantic approach of he enemy. The slaves toiling in the temple of this god began to feel rebellion at his harsh task.The battle was like the grinding of an immense and terrible machine to him. Its complexities and powers, its grim processes, fascinated him. He must go close and see it produce corpses.

Taking place during the American Civil War, this novel is regarded by many as giving an accurate portrayal of the battlefields. And whilst the author had clearly done his homework (having been born after the war had finished), it's key strength is in creating the bond between the reader and the protaganist.The author uses many techniques to encircle the reader in the fog of war, from the smoke of the guns to the annonymity of fellow soldiers. I found the battlefield hard to envision, except in the immediate vicinty of Fleming, which I suspect was also the intention of the author. This is after all a book about an individual exeperience of war, and in some ways the specific setting is (nearly) irrelevant, this could take place in Agincourt, Waterloo or Ypres, it would not diminish the focus of the very question that countless men must have had to face up to before every battle mankind has fought.And so it is that the reader is drawn together with Fleming to ask the question "Would I run or would I fight?"This is perhaps not written in a style that I found particularly fluent, but it was not helped by the formatting of the version that I read, which was very poor (in particular broken paragraphs). I think perhaps I found the story becoming a little saccharine towards the end, contrasted with many of the darker earlier passages. However I did find myself compelled to read to the end, and would recommend the book to anyone who has ever wondered what they would do in the face of battle.

I know I should read it in awe but I feel like Joey and Rachel feel about Citizen Kane. What is all the fuss about. It debunks a romantic ideal of glorious armies advancing through sunlit fields with banners streaming to vanquish a valiant but flawed enemy. Perhaps this is the original "look how war is hell" book and that gives it it's place as a classic. The boredom, fear, terror shame, rites of passage, eye opening experience wreathed in battle smoke prods you into thinking. The chaos, the underlying ineptitude of the commanders which transfers itself to the angry ignorance of the troops takes you into the world of that American War of schismic pain. The language and attitudes are of the time adding to the reality of a war fought in rural farmland between farmers and sons of farmers. Maybe there is something more than I sensed. Worth reading to envisage a young man's experience of the first modern war.

Not always easy to follow. Interesting, because it concentrates on one aspect only, the experience of battle. It charts a fascinating progression towards an interesting transformation.