Worldfamousattwenty-four,brilliantandreckless,hard-livingandscandalous,StephenCranewroteTheRedBadgeofCouragebeforeheeverexperiencedwarfirst-hand.SotruewashisportraitofayoungmanwhorunsfromhisfirstconfrontationwithbattlethatCivilWarveteransarguedaboutwhoseregimentCranehadbeenin.ConsideredbyH.G.Wellsas“beyonddispute,thebestwriterofourgeneration,“Cranewasalsofamousinhistimeasanunforgettablepersonality,anAdoniswithtawnyhairandgray-blueeyesthatWillaCatherdescribedas“fulloflusterandchanginglights.“Aloverofwomenandtruthatanycost,Crane,inhisshortlife,paiddearlyforboth.HealienatedtheNewYorkpolicewhenhetestifiedagainstapolicemanonbehalfofaprostitutefalselyaccusedofsoliciting,forcinghimtolivetherestofhisshortlifeasanexpatriateinEngland.ReportingontheSpanishAmericanWar,CranedescribedtheRoughRidersblunderingintoatrapafterarrivinginCuba,infuriatingRoosevelt.Hediedtragicallyyoung,leavingbehindahandfuloffineshortstories,includingTheOpenBoatandTheBlueHotel,alongwithwarreporting,novels,andpoetry.
