Brings together the best criticism on the most widely read poets, novelists, and playwrights. Presents complex critical portraits of the most influential writers in the English-speaking world -- from the English medievalists to contemporary writers. Presents a representative selection of criticism on the writings of Stephen Crane.

The color of this soul /John Berryman -- Love on earth / Daniel G. Hoffman -- Stephen Crane and the wrath of Jehova / Stanley Wertheim -- "The blue hotel" / Daniel Weiss -- "The open boat" / Marston LaFrance -- Experiments in another country : Stephen Crane's city sketches / Alan Trachtenberg -- Stephen Crane and the narrative methods of impressionism / James Nagel -- Vitalism and redemptive violence / Harold Kaplan -- Stephen Crane and the fallen women / Carol Hurd Green -- The anger of Henry Fleming : the epic of consciousness and The red badge of courage / Chester L. Wolford -- Stephen Crane's upturned faces / Michael Fried.