Recommendations from our site
“It’s the story of a very young soldier, about 14 or 15 years old, in the American Civil War, and it’s about him fearing that he’s a coward. He runs away and finds himself and finds the courage to come back and take his place alongside his fellow soldiers. I think in the heart of almost every man and woman there is this fear that if you were put in that position where you had to show courage, your courage might fail you.” Read more...
Michael Morpurgo recommends his Favourite Children’s Books
Michael Morpurgo, Children's Author
“The way in which he suddenly finds himself caught up in a battle is absolutely brilliant in its description of the battle itself and the emotions he feels, the way he reacts, the impression made on him by fear, horror, dread, exhilaration, triumph, exhaustion, hunger sweeping over him in great waves…It is very short, incredibly vivid and I would put it on my list of the best 12 books that everybody ought to read.” Read more...
Michael Howard, Military Historian and Veteran
“It’s the classic novel of the American Civil War. Henry Fleming — the youth whose tale is told — is worried throughout whether he will find he’s a man of traditional courage, or whether he’ll find that he is a coward.” Read more...
Chris Walsh, Literary Scholar
The Red Badge of Courage is a novel set in the American Civil War by the novelist and poet Stephen Crane (1871-1900). It’s not strictly historical fiction—which, according to some definitions, has to be written at least half a century after the time period the book is set in—but Crane did not himself participate in the Civil War, so it is certainly a work of fiction. It’s been recommended several times on Five Books.
