page_title: Stephen Crane
section_title: Death
hierarchical_section_title: Stephen Crane / Biography / Death
caption_attribution_description: Gravestone of American author Stephen Crane in Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside, New Jersey.
context_page_description: Stephen Crane was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism. He is recognized by modern critics as one of the most innovative writers of his generation.
  The ninth surviving child of Methodist parents, Crane began writing at the age of four and had published several articles by the age of 16. Having little interest in university studies though he was active in a fraternity, he left Syracuse University in 1891 to work as a reporter and writer. Crane's first novel was the 1893 Bowery tale Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, generally considered by critics to be the first work of American literary Naturalism. He won international acclaim in 1895 for his Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage, which he wrote without having any battle experience.
  In 1896, Crane endured a highly publicized scandal after appearing as a witness in the trial of a suspected prostitute, an acquaintance named Dora Clark. Late that year he accepted an offer to travel to Cuba as a war correspondent.
context_section_description: Rent on Ravensbrook had not been paid for a year.  Upon returning to England, Crane secured a solicitor to act as guarantor for their debts, after which Crane and Taylor relocated to Brede Place.  This manor in Sussex, which dated to the 14th century and had neither electricity nor indoor plumbing, was offered to them by friends at a modest rent.  The relocation appeared to give hope to Crane, but his money problems continued.  Deciding that he could no longer afford to write for American publications, he concentrated on publishing in English magazines.
  Crane pushed himself to write feverishly during the first months at Brede; he told his publisher that he was "doing more work now than I have at any other period in my life".  His health worsened, and by late 1899 he was asking friends about health resorts.  The Monster and Other Stories was in production and War Is Kind, his second collection of poems, was published in the United States in May.  None of his books after The Red Badge of Courage had sold well, and he bought a typewriter to spur output.  Active Service, a novella based on Crane's correspondence experience, was published in October.  The New York Times reviewer questioned "whether the author of 'Active Service' himself really sees anything remarkable in his newspapery hero."
  In December, the couple held an elaborate Christmas party at Brede, attended by Conrad, Henry James, H. G. Wells and other friends; it lasted several days. On December 29 Crane suffered a severe pulmonary hemorrhage. In January 1900 he'd recovered sufficiently to work on a new novel, The O'Ruddy, completing 25 of the 33 chapters. Plans were made for him to travel as a correspondent to Gibraltar to write sketches from Saint Helena, the site of a Boer prison, but at the end of March and in early April he suffered two more hemorrhages. Taylor took over most of Crane's correspondence while he was ill, writing to friends for monetary aid. The couple planned to travel on the continent, but Conrad, upon visiting Crane for the last time, remarked that his friend's "wasted face was enough to tell me that it was the most forlorn of all hopes."
  On May 28, the couple arrived at Badenweiler, Germany, a health spa on the edge of the Black Forest.  Despite his weakened condition, Crane continued to dictate fragmentary episodes for the completion of The O'Ruddy.  He died on June 5, 1900, at the age of 28.  In his will he left everything to Taylor, who took his body to New Jersey for burial.  Crane was interred in Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside, New Jersey.
caption: Crane's gravestone in Evergreen Cemetery
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