Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for The Red Badge of Courage, with eBook by Stephen Crane - Available

The Red Badge of Courage, with eBook

by Stephen Crane
William Dufris
Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
The Red Badge of Courage tells the story of Henry Fielding, a farm boy who sets out in search of glory by running away from home to join the Civil War, only to find himself running away from the battlefield in terror during the first skirmish. Mortified by his cowardice, Henry yearns for a wound, his own red badge of courage, which would legitimize his desertion of his company. When Henry is finally wounded, he finds himself feeling real anger for the very first time and is finally able to redeem himself.


First published in 1865, The Red Badge of Courage is considered one of the most important novels of the nineteenth century. It explores the dual natures of battle—the simultaneous sensations of beauty and violence, of terror and triumph—and masterfully mirrors them to Henry's own inner turmoil.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    December 22, 2008

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781400190386
      • File size: 141797 KB
      • Duration: 04:55:24

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 900
    • Text Difficulty: 4-5

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Among the classic war novels, THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE ranks with the best. Its setting is the Civil War; its hero of sorts is young recruit ("fresh fish") Henry Fleming; and its plot focuses on the boredom, fear, cowardice, and bravery that Henry faces as best he can, often more instinctively than intellectually. Reader Scott Brick is fine. He has a storyteller's interest in Henry and the other soldiers, particularly the tall soldier and the loud soldier who wield such an influence on Henry. Brick's best at the matter-of-fact leave-taking between the eager to fight Henry and his reluctant mother and, later, in the battle scenes, in which the tempo quickens. Stephen Crane would be pleased with this rendition of his enduring work. T.H. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Crane's classic story of Henry Fleming's rite of passage in the Civil War is superbly narrated by Walter Lewis. His voice is extremely versatile and expressive. Although Henry and the men of his regiment are from New York, Lewis's Midwestern accent ably conveys the rural character of the personalities in the work. The narration is done just as well; when hearing of the panic of Henry's regiment at the second Confederate assault, one can sense the terror that can so quickly seize and carry away men in battle. There is music interspersed in the action, usually to indicate chapter or side breaks. The effect is mixed. Some listeners (as well as this reviewer) may expect music from the period, martial or popular, rather than the orchestral pieces presented. The cover notes, for the most part, are equal to the performance. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Anthony Heald does a superb job performing Stephen Crane's 1895 book, which has been called the first modern novel about war. The novel tells the story of Henry Fleming, but at times scenes employ a montage of brief comments by fellow soldiers to suggest the feelings of the infantry as a whole. Heald is especially good at rendering these snippets and interjections without a loss of clarity. His energetic pacing and varied intonations bring out the drama and the immediacy of battle. Such an approach remains true to the realism of the book. People who have relegated this novel to the tenth grade should experience Heald's reading. He brings Crane to life. G.H. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Stephen Crane's novella tells the story of a nineteenth-century youth who casts off his romantic notions as he experiences the Civil War. The impressionistic style of the text, vivid details, and attention to local accents are notable in Crane's style. Scott Brick's narration maintains the tempo of the text perfectly. With a slow pace and purposeful tone, he meanders through Crane's descriptions and picks up speed in the battle scenes. In a book that fluctuates between inner personal struggle and external events, Brick's measured delivery maintains a sense of clarity. He also captures the rugged infantrymen by emphasizing their country drawls and local slang. Brick's reading ably contrasts the beauty of Crane's descriptive language with the coarse depictions of wartime soldiers. D.M.W. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      In this re-release of a well-known classic, Frank Muller creates a world made for audio. His performance lifts the words from the page and turns them into flesh-and-blood characters with aches and torments. Each accent fits the character, and each character sounds authentic. Union soldier Henry Fleming faces his first battle and runs away. Muller turns Henry's shame at his act of cowardice into something as tangible as the "red badge" he longs for. Muller's pacing is exceptional in battle sequences, and his quiet moments can be tender. Henry's plight combined with Muller's vocal artistry makes this utterly engrossing listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Mike Vendetti's conversational style is ideal for this post-Civil War novel, which remains relevant even today. Young Henry Fleming joins the military to experience the glory of battle but soon finds that the reality is terrifying. Fleming's story personalizes the war, and Vendetti's measured tone changes as the action and emotions shift. It's moving to hear Fleming's mother's initial opposition and reluctant agreement to his enlistment. As he and his fellow soldiers wait to engage, rumors run rife, and the frustrated soldiers second-guess their superiors. And it's particularly painful to hear Fleming flee the battle, face humiliation, and finally, after witnessing the gruesome deaths of his comrades, fight ferociously. The thoughtful conclusion conveys relief as the war finally ends. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      June 6, 2005
      This 1895 tale of young soldier Henry Fleming's initial experiences in combat during the Civil War still startles. Artist Vansant captures Fleming's uncertainty and fear quite well, sometimes through effectively understated facial expressions. Yet this adaptation oversimplifies Crane's portrayal of Fleming, ignoring or de-emphasizing the character's other failings: his egotism, his talent for self-justification and the "wild battle madness" underlying much of his later heroism. In Crane's book, Fleming is haunted by his desertion of the dying "tattered man"; in Vansant's version, Fleming forgets him. Though Crane's book is a landmark in realism, the author's symbolic writing turned Fleming's battlefield into a mythic realm. Vansant's conventionally realistic artwork, on the other hand, is more prosaic than Crane's brilliantly descriptive captions. This adaptation faithfully introduces the plot, characters and primary themes of Red Badge
      to readers unfamiliar with the original book without penetrating the full depths of Crane's masterwork.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:900
  • Text Difficulty:4-5

Loading