The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen Crane

Henry Fleming, a private in the Union Army, runs away from the field of war. Afterwards, the shame he feels at this act of cowardice ignites his desire to receive an injury in combat — a "red badge of courage" — that will redeem him. Stephen Crane's novel about a young soldier's experiences during the American Civil War is well known for its understated naturalism and its realistic depiction of battle. (Courtesy of ipage.ingramcontent.com)