About
Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was a major American naturalist writer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, he briefly attended Syracuse University before working as a journalist in New York City. His first novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893), self-published, is considered the first work of American literary naturalism. His masterpiece, The Red Badge of Courage (1895), a Civil War novel written without firsthand war experience, brought him international fame. An innovative free-verse poet, he published The Black Riders (1895) and War Is Kind (1899). As a war correspondent in Greece and Cuba, he survived the sinking of the Commodore, an experience recounted in his short story "The Open Boat" (1897).
* 1871-11-01 — † 1900-06-05
Major works
- Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893)novel
- The Red Badge of Courage (1895)novel
- The Black Riders and Other Lines (1895)poetry
- The Open Boat and Other Tales of Adventure (1898)short story collection
- War Is Kind (1899)poetry
Key milestones
- 1893Self-publishes Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, considered the first American naturalist novel.
- 1895Publishes The Red Badge of Courage, an international bestseller that brings him fame.
- 1897Survives the sinking of the Commodore off the coast of Florida, an experience that inspires his short story "The Open Boat".
Themes
naturalismpsychological realismwarsurvivalhuman condition
Sources: catdir.loc.gov · oxfordbibliographies.com · anb.org