The Red Badge of Courage

by Malvina G. Vogel, Stephen Crane, E.R.Cruz (Illustrator)

In the spring of 1863, while engaged in the fierce battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia, a young Union soldier matures to manhood and finds peace of mind as he comes to grips with his conflicting emotions about war.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Civil War, Adventure, Young Adult, Childrens

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 1990

Reviews

[Jonny Parshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

War is not fun. It never has been. Et cetera. And yet this is a fun book, frankly speaking. It is not a serious dissection of war. There are enough of those. It does not portray the irony of war, its sins against humanity, or its contradictions toward its goals. Nor does it break down the dense tactics and strategies that compose war's outcomes. It is a simple book.

The Red Badge of Courage follows two characters' actions throughout a few short days, depicting how they express cowardice and bravery, and how they grow during those few short days. It is pure in its approach, and simple in its execution. Thus was the trend of pulpy war novels of the late 19th century. But it is not pulp, because in its simplicity, it provides and unseen, unmentioned depth that neither the simplest nor most detailed accounts can provide.

While the book I enjoyed, the illustrations left something for want. The main characters are in their late teens/early twenties and yet the artist portrayed them a barrel-chested John Wayne-types appearing later in years.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can say that I am grateful that I didn't have to read this particular book in school since with my first reading I found that it was quite awful or at least in this version.

The book is suppose to be over a span of two or three days and one battle. As a result we are introduced to mainly three characters with whom we are given a chance to learn more about. There isn't much backstory for the three although we are given some clues as to where they are possibly from and who they were born as.

Instead the book leans more showing their personalities and as a result the first half of the book was like reading about a guy with multiple personalities. Not only was Henry at his worse but he never even seemed to improve even when there was a bit of change at the end.

All in all it was okay but one that I wouldn't recommend to casual readers.

[Dane Hyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot and learned a lot from it

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I first opened “The Red Badge of Courage,” adapted by Malvina G. Vogel from Stephen Crane’s classic, I knew it was a book that would stay with me forever. As one of the first books I ever read, it holds a special place in my heart as a personal favorite.
The story, set during the American Civil War, follows a young Union soldier who grapples with his fear and conflicting emotions about the war. Vogel’s adaptation captures the essence of Crane’s original work, presenting the harsh realities of war while exploring the inner battle that rages within the protagonist.
What makes this book particularly poignant is its timeless exploration of courage and self-discovery. The protagonist’s journey from fear to valor is depicted with such authenticity that it resonates deeply, reminding us of the complex nature of bravery.
Vogel’s adaptation is commendable for retaining the intensity and impact of the narrative, making it accessible to a younger audience without diluting its powerful message. The prose is evocative, and the pacing ensures that readers are engaged from start to finish.
In conclusion, “The Red Badge of Courage” is more than just a book; it’s an experience that challenges and inspires. Whether you’re encountering it for the first time or revisiting it, the journey it takes you on is profound and unforgettable. I wholeheartedly recommend this adaptation to anyone seeking a story that captures the human spirit in the face of adversity.

[Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is boring hard to read. This book. is about an 18 year old boy named Henry Flemings who has to leave his home and go fight in the war. While he is training and getting ready to fight in combat he keeps on asking himself the question whether he is going to stay and fight or flee from the battle. When the battle finally comes he runs away from it as fast as he can trying to save himself but then later when he finds out that they won he feels guilty and tries to make it so nobody finds out that he fled from the fight. After he went into his third battle he finally decides to stay and fight and then he becomes best fighter in the battalion as well as the flag bearer he finally proves himself and earns the red badge of courage. The reason I don't like this book is because it is super hard to get sucked into and I would get distracted super easily while reading this.It is super hard to read because of the way they talk for example they say the word to as t’ and tomorrow as t’morrah. But this book does have a great theme and lesson to teach and that is to believe in yourself and to always have courage. Because he was super scared to fight but in the end he became the best fighter in his whole battalion and that I think has a lesson to teach.

[Henry Henley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was a teen, probably 14 or 15. It made enough impression on me that I’ve always remembered it. It ranks very high to me even though having read it again it’s obvious that it is a much simpler written book than my memory of it. It is a fun, fast, and easy read although Crane tackled a difficult subject.

I am planning to give it to my grandson who just turned 16. In a couple weeks I will be 72. I’ve been rereading some of the books I enjoyed when I was much younger.

I had forgotten the main character, Henry, and I share the same name. I enjoyed seeing that.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was filled with anger, rage, and hatred; disdain and disrespect for those in charge. Even the illustrations depicted these extreme emotions. There was some swearing and using God's name while changing the spelling - I suppose to make it more acceptable? The one redeeming factor was cowardice turned bravado.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Red Badge of Courage was a great illustrated story about the Civil War and the 304th regiment. It is a great st0ry about what the war was like and how it affected people. I hope whoever reads this book enjoys it.

[Brent Ecenbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The boys were really looking forward to reading this one based on the cover and for the most part it kept them entertained and following along. I also like that the title was part of the story and now our kids feel like they know a secret by knowing what the red badge of courage was.

[Georgina Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of military action, psychological story on soldier life. Good characterizations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this mini book as a child!

[Knox Holloman]

good

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I hope can buy a copy of this book and read it again.

[Clay C. 8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book of war the red badge of courage by Malvina Vogel is a book about a war and how they fought them. They would stop and fight then run and it would happen over and over again and it told how people died. In the end the book was just the same thing over and over and it was just not a fun book to read or understand there language of war. What I liked is how they one at the end and did not give up. To not give up is probably the life lesson. If the author took more time on his books I think they could be better.

[Bearcatgary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a young soldier who within a span of 2 days transforms from a cowardly deserter into a courageous hero during the Battle of Chancellorsville of the Civil War. I read the Great Illustrated Classic version of the story because I will probably never have the time to read the unedited version.

[Davidramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a boy (I think around 10-12 maybe, living in VA) and I remember not liking it very much. I wanted a war story - death, destruction and heroes. While there are elements of that in the book, it is mostly a story of a self-deluded young man's experiences at war and Crane's commentary on courage in battle. It definitely was not a satisfying read, almost, 20 years ago.

Reading it again though I appreciated it a lot more. Whether it's maturity or being able to relate to the personal journey involved with going to war, I could sympathize and understand the characters a lot better. Crane's portrayal of the self doubt and delusion were uncomfortably accurate. Additionally, the version I read had the full story vs the more common version. This included more of the details that make the main character so complicated. Definitely a challenging read, but worthwhile.

[Collin Sommers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. I thought this book was really well written. The book was from a first person point of view about the civil war. You could find out how tough these battles were and how hard it was to be a soldier during those times.

This book takes place in Virginia during the time of the civil war. The main character in this book was Henery Fleming who is 18 years old and wanted to have the pride in being a Union soldier. Throughout the book Henery is trying to show that he is brave and not to run away from a battle. He is trying to earn his red badge of courage, which he soon finds out is where a bullet hits him and not a badge that you earn after a battle. After learning this Henery shows true bravery by running into a battle, unarmed, and carying the Union flag.

I would recommend this book to anyone if you like learning about the civil war. This is a very good book and you will love it.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

What made this book fascinating to me was the realization that the author never went to war, but supposed what it would have been like for the protagonist in the situation that he drew up for him, and seemed to have nailed it after cross-checking his fictions with Union soldiers - who knew the facts

A century later, the psychological reactions of the main character to his personal trauma checks out with research, specifically that of survivors who endure mostly or entirely unscathed despite horrors occurring around them. Malcolm Gladwell has shone a spotlight on such circumstances, and the young boy's mental outcome during and after bears out with the studies on the subject.

It also helps that Crane had an ear for dialect, ala Elmore Leonard's well-drawn out and expertly-spoken characters.

Sometimes a classic actually does impress you.

[Leo Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "The Red Badge of Courage," you watch a young, inexperienced kid growing up in the middle of the Civil War. He grows from having immature, Romantic visions of war -- "Come home carrying your shield, or on it" -- through terror at being killed to the realization that death is part of life.

At the time, I am sure this book was remarkable. This is no macho John Wayne-style adventure story where generals representing eternal ideals fight in Olympian struggle of strategy. Instead, its told from eye level. A grunt facing death, horror and fear that his own cowardice, which he overcomes, will be found out.

Very a astute psychological portrait, but very easy to read and follow. I can see why this is considered a classic. Not as jaw-dropping as some I've read, but a great, quick read.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was very challenging. It had some tough vocabulary words that I was unfamiliar with. I think this book was one of the best I've ever read because it pushed me to become a better reader. It is a classic story about the Civil War. The book has two main characters Henry Fleming and his best friend(Tom}. This book is told from Henry Fleming's point of view. It is about sacrifice and courage. For example, he had to have courage to pick up the flag after it fell during battle. It's challenging, and exciting at the same time! If you are interested in history or war you should read this classic novel.

[Maegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

satisfaction/enjoyment rate: 68%

This book served its purpose as required school reading, giving me quality insight for the normal, unknown circumstances inside war and battle. The writing did cause a lot of confusion for me and seemed too much but not enough at many times. Through practically the first half of the book, I had only a vague sense of what was occurring. However after examining the given details on Sparknotes lol, I came to understand the book much better and I began to enjoy it.

Even though I was frustratingly confused during much of The Red Badge of Courage, I do think it is a great story to be told about the Civil War.

[Brandon Swarrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly love the way Crane writes. His Realism, his ability to fit so much powerful descriptive language in a paragraph without being too wordy, and his fearless approach to storytelling is awesome. This book is a classic because it was unique, the first of its kind, and so many other books and movies have been done about war that "The Red Badge of Courage" is definitely the original war story. After all that praise, the book lacks action, the dialect is annoying, and is difficult to get into. I have mixed feelings...and there is no 2.5 star rating.

[Andrew Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very good. Powerful in its message, the book enchants you, making you wonder what will happen next. I could follow Henry, the main character's, actions through the vivid and concise words used to tell the story. This book also let me think up of the setting, characters, and places, fully letting me read the story in the best way possible. You must read this book, no matter when, in your lifetime.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book for the first time in junior high and remember liking it. It is good but I think I got the "watered down" abridged version. Still good but a quick read. I remember being floored when I learned what the red badge of courage was for the first time and as an adult honestly don't know if I could go into a battle like that! Eek! Horrifying!

[Kyle Hengesbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane tells us a story about a cowardly soldier in the civil war who turns hero. This book is a very good description of the life of a soldier in the civil war even though it isn't a true story. If you are interested in history or war books and want an easy read this is the book for you.

[Macie Vieira]

The red badge of courage is about men in the 304th regiment fighting the rebels to win land. When they say red badge of courage it means they've been wounded but are still fighting and trying their hardest to win. I really liked this book because it was very energetic and had a lot of action in it. I would recommend this book to people who like history books about war and men that are very brave.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and descriptive narrative of battle. Crane clearly shows that soldiers are swept up in their surroundings and influences of their peers and commanders. None seem to consider the overarching reason for the war they are engaged in.

[Michelle L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this would have had more information/facts about the Civil War for my students as we have been studying this. The language is difficult and the quotes are confusing to read and understand for my 5th graders.

[Karalee Hoge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the language was difficult, I enjoyed this realistic portrayal of the Civil War. The author's perspective and relating of the events got the reader involved with this time period. I definitely liked how realistic is was compared to other novels I've read about the Civil War.