The Red Badge of Courage - by Stephen Crane (Paperback)

About the Book

"Written by author Stephen Crane when he was just 24, The Red Badge of Courage is a Civil War story which captured the imaginations of readers worldwide and made its author an overnight literary icon. A groundbreaking and realistic examination of the psychological effects of war, the novel draws from firsthand accounts and research. Crane's depiction of his main character, Henry Fleming, and his internal monologue, ring so true that many readers mistook Crane for a veteran himself. The realistic prose and visceral descriptions of battle that Crane used marked the first shift away from uncritical patriotism in war literature. It would take until at least the 1920s and the wake of the horror of the First World War for the rest of the genre to catch up. In the years following its publication, The Red Badge of Courage was hailed by Crane scholar Henry Wertheim as 'unquestionably the most realistic novel about the American Civil War,' and Ernest Hemingway called the novel an 'American classic.' Now, Steve Cuzor revisits this seminal classic in his graphic novel adaptation. His stark yet detailed artwork perfectly capture the realistic prose of the original novel, presenting a lushly illustrated but unflinching depiction of war through the eyes of a young, inexperienced soldier. By illustrating the story, Cuzor pulls readers into the midst of the action, making Henry Fleming's experience feel all the more visceral. Literary aficionados and students alike will find another layer of this classic story to appreciate in this new adaptation of Crane's magnum opus"

Book Synopsis

A powerful graphic novel adaptation of the classic and genre-defining war novel The Red Badge of Courage, which has been continuously in print since 1894, available simultaneously in hardcover and paperback

Steve Cuzor's stark yet detailed artwork perfectly capture the realistic prose of the original novel, presenting a lushly illustrated, unflinching depiction of war through the eyes of a young, inexperienced soldier.

By illustrating the story, Cuzor pulls readers into the midst of the action, making Henry Fleming's experience feel all the more visceral.

Literary aficionados and students alike will find another layer of this classic story to appreciate in this new adaptation of Crane's magnum opus.

Written by Stephen Crane when he was just 24, The Red Badge of Courage is a Civil War story that captured the imaginations of readers worldwide and made its author an overnight literary icon. A groundbreaking and realistic examination of the psychological effects of war, the novel draws from firsthand accounts and research.

Crane's depiction of his main character, Henry Fleming, and his internal monologue, ring so true that many readers mistook Crane for a veteran himself.

The realistic prose and visceral descriptions of battle that Crane used marked the first shift away from uncritical patriotism in war literature. It would take until at least the 1920s and the wake of the horror of the First World War for the rest of the genre to catch up.

In the years following its publication, The Red Badge of Courage was hailed by Crane scholar Henry Wertheim as "unquestionably the most realistic novel about the American Civil War," and Ernest Hemingway called the novel an "American classic."

Review Quotes

"The Red Bad of Courage has already cemented its place in American literature. However, it comes alive with Cuzor's illustrations in this new graphic novel adaptation. Cuzor not only pulls readers into the middle of the hectic and beautifully illustrated battles, but he also offers solemn and unflinching portraits of Civil War soldiers going on their day-to-day." - Comics Beat--Javier Perez "Comics Beat"

"Cuzor not only is faithful to the source material and produces a stunning work of art, but he also casts a new lens on how to read the story." - Freak Sugar

--Jed W. Keith "Freak Sugar" (5/9/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"Atmospheric...Showcasing Cuzor's timeless work bringing the classic to comics, and giving new life to Crane's unforgiving look at the realities of war" - Popverse--Graeme McMillan "Popverse" (5/12/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"Cuzor does an extraordinary job illustrating this in his adaptation. The added details that come in through the line drawing really gives the work a new and exciting perspective." - Forces of Geek--Lenny Schwartz "Forces of Geek"

"Cuzor's adaptation brings Crane's harrowing tale to life with stark, richly detailed illustrations that capture both the chaos of battle and the profound inner turmoil of its protagonist." - AIPT Comics--David Brooke "AIPT Comics" (5/13/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"When it comes to the Great American Novel, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more quintessential pick than Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage. The book's unflinching depiction of a soldier's life during the Civil War made it unique in the literary world upon release, and it also makes it a natural fit to be adapted into a graphic novel. Abrams ComicArts has done just that." - IGN--Jesse Schedeen "IGN" (4/30/2025 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was a groundbreaking and prolific author who began writing at the age of 16. At 24, frustrated by the dry accounts he read of the Civil War, he set out to write a book that focused on the internal conflict of a young Union soldier and changed American literature forever. The Red Badge of Courage won him international praise and radically redefined what a war novel could be. Crane lived in New York and would continue to write until he died of tuberculosis, but none of his subsequent four novels would receive the same critical acclaim. Steve Cuzor was born in Rennes, France, in 1971. His two great passions are drawing and horses, the latter of which he rode since the age of 13, making him one of the youngest stunt riders ever. Knowing his horse-riding career wouldn't last forever, he eventually passed the entrance exam for applied arts in Paris. He began to try his hand at comic strips, which he wrote and illustrated himself. This led him to create Black Jack, a series published by Casterman, which tells the story of four kids in New York during Prohibition. He also collaborated on Quintett (Dupuis, 2006) with writer Frank Giroud, and illustrated Black Cotton Star (Pegasus Books, 2020), written by Yves Sente. Cuzor lives and works in France.