The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen Crane · first published 1855
18% recommend64% neutral18% critical
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 18
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Yup, official military reading lists include a fair bit of fiction. Recent ones that I can think of are Ghost Fleet, Starship Troopers, Enders Game, Red Badge of Courage, The Orphan Master's Son, The Kite Runner. The really nice thing is that since many of those lists are refreshed yearly, they are an ongoing fountain of interesting books. Good stuff!
on “Military Reading List” ↗I would also suggest the childrens books Cheaper by the Dozen, The Musicians of Brennan, Morris' Disappearing Bag and The Red Badge of Courage. I'd maybe throw in some of the little house on the prairie books as well, especially the one where they all almost froze to death. I think being able to appreciate books as an adult is pretty contingent…
on “How to live an intellectually rich life” ↗…the US we had heroes fighting japs and nazis, then commies (notably no one ever fought the confederates in pop culture...). In modern mass media I can't contradict that, but Stephen Crane's book The Red Badge of Courage was very well received. I believe it is often ranked among the best American novels.
on “How TV dramas informed and misinformed perceptions of the war on drugs” ↗…point of it, really. It took me a decade after high school to read a fiction book again, and this is far from uncommon among those who suffered through it alongside me. I don't remember a thing about Red Badge of Courage except I had to extract meaning from why the grass in this particular scene was green - to symbolize new life, hope, rebirth, etc.
on “When six boys were shipwrecked for 15 months (2020)” ↗I read an average amount as a child and frankly I found books such as "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Red Badge of Courage", "Great Expectations", etc to be absolutely mind-numbingly boring and would have to force myself to finish them. As a young adult I actually picked up some books I found interesting (i.e. nonfiction)…
on “Large home libraries may have a long-term impact on proficiency: study” ↗…has gotten out to the public at large. It's still a hot button issue for me, at least. When I was in 7th grade, my English teacher had us read Macbeth, Northwest Passage, The Last of the Mohicans, The Red Badge of Courage, and other notable works. We discussed them in detail and wrote essays ad nauseum. It was hard, but we were the better for it. Last year, in my son's Literature class (note; it's not English anymore…
on “The Academic Bubble” ↗East of Eden and Grapes of Wrath are on my upcoming list of titles to read. A few others I've read since high school that I ought to have then are Red Badge of Courage, All Quiet On The Western Front, and Of Mice and Men.
on “Ask HN: Best books you've read in 2015” ↗…balanced breakfast" and they show OJ, fruit, toast, whatever? We got cereal in 2%, and GTFO it's time for school. By high school, I was practicing some mighty avoidance. I remember never reading "The Red Badge of Courage" or Shakespeare or anything else that was assigned. I had a shelf full of bumblebee-colored Cliff's Notes, and that was that. Sometimes I feel like I'd be happier if I were more ignorant. If I read less…
on “People who grew up reading a lot usually have these 10 unique traits” ↗Of the past 100 years - so forget Main Street, Moby Dick, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Red Badge of Courage, and a great many others.
on “136 Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years” ↗The education system is already a relic of the past. All the points mentioned in the article assumes that a classroom full of students writing five-paragraph essays on The Red Badge of Courage in 12-point TNR with one-inch margins, hastily graded by an overworked, underpaid public school teacher is still the best way to teach kids in 2025 about critical thinking. I picture going forward we'll…
on “The deadline isn't when AI outsmarts us – it's when we stop using our own minds” ↗"The Red Badge of Courage" was there, as well.
on “Military Reading List” ↗