And another one: The Red Badge of Courage

The Red Badge of Courage

S. Crane

An American classic containing vivid, violent and realistic fighting scenes from the Civil War. Stories of war from the perspective of the regular private grunt intrigue me the most- it's not about an officer's opinions, relaying of facts and summations about large events, but rather the helplessness and confusion of the every-day man put into a place where no man would want to be. The scenes of battle ring so true in Red Badge of Courage, that book reviewers of the day assumed that the author was writing from his own personal battlefield experiences. He was not. He did not fight in the war, and he never saw battle until after he wrote the book, and even then it was as an observer (he wanted to see first hand if his book held up to the real thing- it did).
But the book is not really about the war at all- it is a backdrop for the story of a youth's internal struggle between his natural fear, cowardice and need to flee, and his deep desire to conceal his fear. Fear of being labelled and ridiculed by his peers as a coward and a deserter. In the thick of his first battle, he does just that- he is overcome by the fear of being overrun and killed, and desperately wants to run for his life, and finally, as a few others begin to flee, he joins them in a mad rush away from the charging enemy. After, in his internal deliberations he makes up excuses, makes rationalizations, transfers of admonishments to others, and outright alters the facts to avoid having to face his own cowardice. Eventually he makes his way back to his unit, and forces himself to stay, engage in battle, and to finally redeem himself (and more).
I think the book was so popular because it portrays the reaction that everyman would have to the ferocity of battle. Sure, there are people who were born to fight, and those who crave battle for the experience, but most people want to live their lives in peace and safety, and to pursue happiness, as it were. This is most people. His internalizations reflect those of the many- those normal ones that, when it is thrust upon them,  see war as an unspeakable horror, and not as a game or an adventure.
Most men would say outwardly that "I would never run" and it may be true of many, but for many more, what happens to the poor youth, Henry Fleming is what the rest of us fear, deep down inside. That our fear and cowardice will be discovered by all.
Written in the 1890's, the dialogue (probably) reflects the colloquial speak of the day, yet it is easy to read, the prose flowing and well written. Highly recommended for both those interested in the American classics, and for those interested in the Civil War.