The Red Badge Of Courage - Paperbackby Stephen Crane (Author) The Red Badge of Courage is a novel by American author Stephen Crane, first published in 1895. The book tells the story of Henry Fleming, a young Union soldier during the American Civil War, who struggles with fear and doubt as he faces the harsh realities of battle. As Henry experiences his first taste of combat, he becomes obsessed with the idea of proving his bravery and earning a ""red badge of courage"" a wound that