Stephen Crane (1871–1900) was an American novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism. Crane's first novel was the 1893 Bowery tale Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. He won international acclaim for his 1895 Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage, written without any battle experience. Late that year he accepted an offer to cover the Spanish–American War as a war correspondent. As he waited in Jacksonville, Florida, for passage to Cuba, he met Cora Taylor, the madam of a brothel, with whom he would have a lasting relationship. Plagued by financial difficulties and ill health, Crane died of tuberculosis at the age of 28. Although recognized primarily for The Red Badge of Courage, Crane is also known for short stories such as "The Open Boat", "The Blue Hotel", "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky", and The Monster. His writing made a deep impression on 20th-century writers, most prominent among them Ernest Hemingway, and is thought to have inspired the Modernists and the Imagists.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Crane

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

663:

The Daming Palace became the government seat and royal residence of the Tang empire during Emperor Gaozong's reign. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daming_Palace

1862:

As the Treaty of Saigon was signed, ceding parts of southern Vietnam to France, the guerrilla leader Truong Dinh decided to defy Emperor Tu Duc of Vietnam and fight on against the Europeans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truong_Dinh

1947:

At a speech at Harvard University, United States Secretary of State George Marshall called for economic aid to war-torn Europe, outlining a recovery program that became known as the Marshall Plan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Marshall

1963:

The British Secretary of State for War John Profumo admitted he lied to the House of Commons during enquiries about his involvement in a sex scandal and resigned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Profumo

2009:

After 65 straight days of civil disobedience, at least 31 people were killed in clashes between the National Police and indigenous people in Peru's Bagua Province. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Peruvian_political_crisis

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

vulgarian: A vulgar individual, especially one who emphasizes or is oblivious to their vulgar qualities. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vulgarian

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The reward for living is the living itself.   --Charles Hartshorne https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Hartshorne