Collected Poems

by Stephen Crane

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist, poet and journalist. He is best known for his novel Red Badge of Courage (1895). The novel introduced for most readers Crane's strikingly original prose, an intensely rendered mix of impressionism, naturalism and symbolism. He lived in New York City a bohemian life where he observed the poor in the Bowery slums as research for his first novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (1893), a milestone in uncompromising realism and in the early development of literary naturalism. He became shipwrecked in route to Cuba in early 1897, an experience which he later transformed into his short story masterpiece, The Open Boat (1898). Crane's poetry, which he called 'lines' rather than poems, was also strikingly new in its minimalist meter and rhyme. It employed symbolic imagery in order to communicate at times heavy-handed irony and paradox. Other works include Active Service (1899), The Monster (1899), The Blue Hotel (1899), Whilomville Stories (1900) and Wounds in the Rain (1900).

Genres: Poetry

132 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 1930

About the author

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist, poet and journalist, best known for the novel, The Red Badge of Courage. That work introduced the reading world to Crane's striking prose, a mix of impressionism, naturalism and symbolism. He died at age 28 in Badenweiler, Baden, Germany.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many of these were sort of flat, simple things, more like a single statement or phrase from what should be a larger poem. Many are totally brilliant, compact and visceral images that are expressive beyond the idea. I wasn't aware of his poetry when I was in college but it was oddly familiar to me reading his work - so much of what I worked towards as a poetry undergrad was essentially a style that was very much his. This approach to poetry just always made more sense to me.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection marked the first time I had a truly physical reaction to poetry, and I’ve thought of it as my gateway ever since. "In the Desert" has stayed with me in a way few poems ever have.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading Crane since 1953. Red Badge before that. I particularly like his poetry, several of which I know by heart. I'd encourage you to check him out.