There comes a time in the course of a battle when a soldier leaves his fate in the hands of the Gods of war. He carries on with the battle at hand, the only way he knows how - fight now, think later. Stephen Cranesâ classic novel âThe Red Badge of Courageâ offers us an insight into the mind of a young soldier. As he delves into the black depths of both PTSD and trauma, Cranesâ striking descriptions and masterful prose make this captivating novel unmissable for fans of Jack London, John Steinbeck, and Edith Wharton. Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American naturalist writer and journalist. He began writing as a child, but quit in favour of journalism following the death of his parents. He wrote mainly for New York magazines and newspapers, with specific focus on life in the slums. He used this experience as a starting point for his first novel âMaggie: A Girl of the Streetsâ (1893), but his breakthrough as an author did not come until his novel âThe Red Badge for Courageâ (1895). He later became a war correspondent, dying of tuberculosis at the age of 28. His striking descriptions, captivating plots, and masterful prose make him perfect for fans of Jack London, John Steinbeck, and Edith Wharton.