Stephen Crane Stephen Crane (1871-1900), an American poet, novelist, and short story writer, started writing at age four and by 16 had several articles published in the local periodicals. His passion for writing and storytelling led him to leave Syracuse Unversity in 1891 to work full time as a reporter and writer. His first novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is widely considered to be the first work of American Literary Naturalism. Crane later grabbed international recognition for his Civil War novel, The Red Badge of Courage, which broke new literary ground with its form and tone, while also featuring the most accurate depictions of the Civil War from the era. During his life, Crane became a minor international celebrity thanks to his eccentric lifestyle and companions, frequent newspaper reporting, and association with other famous authors. Upon his death, he had become one of the most widely known and celebrated authors of his time and had left a literary legacy that still lives on in history classrooms today. Read More Read Less