Stephen Crane was an American author born in 1871 who is known for his realistic stories about war such as The Red Badge of Courage. He had a difficult childhood as the 14th of 15 children. Crane began writing at a young age and published his first novel Maggie: A Girl of the Streets in 1893. His writing was praised for its naturalism and impressionism. Crane died of tuberculosis in 1900 while still relatively young at age 28, but he left a significant influence on later authors like Hemingway and Conrad through his realistic depictions of human struggle.