"The Red Badge of Courage" is a novel by Stephen Crane that takes place during the American Civil War. The story follows a young Union Army private named Henry Fleming who flees from battle and longs for a "red badge of courage" to counteract his cowardice. The novel is known for its realism and naturalism, despite Crane not having experienced battle firsthand. The story explores themes of maturation, heroism, cowardice, and the indifference of nature. The novel received wide