The Red Badge of Courage

An episode of the American Civil War... Union private Henry Fleming faces action in the Civil War, and flees the field of battle. Overcome with shame at his actions. Fleming becomes desperate to be wounded, to wear a 'red badge of courage'. The novel is famed for its realistic style, particularly its vivid description of battles, and for its intimite, psychological portrayal of taking part in war. Stephen Crane's novel has been adapted for the screen many times and is rightly acclaimed as a major American novel.