Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 - June 5, 1900) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. The ninth surviving child of Methodist parents, Crane began writing at the age of four and had several articles published by the age of 16. Crane's first novel was the 1893 Bowery tale Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. He won international acclaim in 1895 for his Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage, which he wrote without having any battle experience. Although he was a prolific writer, he struggled financially until the end of his life. Crane's work fell out of favor after his death but he is recognized by modern critics as one of the most innovative writers of his generation. His writing made a deep impression on 20th-century writers, most prominent among them Ernest Hemingway.
