The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE is a war novel by American author Stephen Crane (1871-1900). 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. Although Crane was born after the war, and had not at the time experienced battle first-hand, the novel is known for its realism. He began writing what would become his second novel in 1893, using various contemporary and written accounts (such as those published previously by Century Magazine) as inspiration. It is believed that he based the fictional battle on that of Chancellorsville; he may also have interviewed veterans of the 124th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the Orange Blossoms. Initially shortened and serialized in newspapers in December 1894, the novel was published in full in October 1895. A longer version of the work, based on Crane's original manuscript, was published in 1982. The novel is known for its distinctive style, which includes realistic battle sequences as well as the repeated use of color imagery, and ironic tone. Separating itself from a traditional war narrative, Crane's story reflects the inner experience of its protagonist (a soldier fleeing from combat) rather than the external world around him. Also notable for its use of what Crane called a psychological portrayal of fear, the novel's allegorical and symbolic qualities are often debated by critics. Several of the themes that the story explores are maturation, heroism, cowardice, and the indifference of nature. The Red Badge of Courage garnered widespread acclaim, what H. G. Wells called an orgy of praise, shortly after its publication, making Crane an instant celebrity at the age of twenty-four. The novel and its author did have their initial detractors, however, including author and veteran Ambrose Bierce. Adapted several times for the screen, the novel became a bestseller. It has never been out of print and is now thought to be Crane's most important work and a major American text.

“With this insightful volume, James Nagel once again confirms his stellar reputation as one of the leading critics of American literatureFrom the engaging discussion of the novel’s craftsmanship, its structure and style, to the comprehensive overview of critical perspectives, Nagel’s introduction cements The Red Badge of Courage as the finest impressionistic account of the most shattering war in American history. The Appendices are valuable for its evidence of Hamlin Garland’s influence on the young writer as well as for the perceptive reviews by Crane’s contemporaries. The deleted Chapter 12, reprinted in the appendices, is an essential reference for Nagel’s inarguable conclusion that had the chapter remained, the final version of the text would not have achieved such a fine balance of form. Undoubtedly, this edition of America’s major Civil War novel will become indispensable to any serious reader of Stephen Crane.” — Olivia Carr Edenfield, Georgia Southern University

“James Nagel’s edition of Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage is an authoritative, meticulous contribution. In clear, direct prose, Nagel describes the contextual and structural intricacies of the novel and guides readers through the critical tradition. Nagel’s annotations are prudent; he does not crowd Crane’s text with unnecessary or tangential information. The appendices and select bibliography are also quite valuable, providing researchers an excellent point of departure. Useful to the student as well as the specialist, this book will no doubt become a standard resource for scholars of Crane, Naturalism, and literary Impressionism.” — Robert C. Clark, University of West Alabama

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist, poet, and journalist.

James Nagel is Edson Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Georgia. The former President of the Stephen Crane Society, he is the author of Stephen Crane and Literary Impressionism (Pennsylvania State University Press, 1980) and many other books on American literature.

SKU	Non disponible
ISBN 13	9781554811274
ISBN 10	1554811279
Titre	The Red Badge of Courage
Auteur	Stephen Crane
Série	Broadview Editions
État	Non disponible
Type de reliure	Paperback
Éditeur	Broadview Press Ltd
Année de publication	2014-12-30
Nombre de pages	216
Note de couverture	La photo du livre est présentée à titre d'illustration uniquement. La reliure, la couverture ou l'édition réelle peuvent varier.
Note	Non disponible