Cover of The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

The Red Badge of Courage

by Stephen Crane

187 pages~3 hrs

In the chaos of the front lines, the greatest battle is the one fought within.

Henry Fleming dreams of battlefield glory, but when the smoke of the American Civil War clears, he is forced to confront the terrifying reality of his own fear. This psychological masterpiece takes you deep into the mind of a young soldier as he discovers that true bravery isn't found in a uniform, but in the heat of the fight.

Why read The Red Badge of Courage on Smarter Classics

Click to explain

Tap any line of The Red Badge of Courage for an instant, spoiler-free explanation drawn only from what you have already read.

Character tracking

Never lose track of who's who. Every character has a page that only reveals what has been introduced so far — no spoilers.

Pick up where you left off

Your reading position stays synced. Open The Red Badge of Courage on any device and continue exactly where you stopped.

Smarter Classics

presents