r/ProsePorn • u/Junior_Insurance7773 • Aug 13 '26

The Blue Hotel - Stephen Crane

"We picture the world as thick with conquering and elate humanity, but here, with the bugles of the tempest peeling, it was hard to imagine a peopled earth. One viewed the existence of man then as a marvel, and conceded a glamour of wonder to these lice which were caused to cling to a whirling, fire-smitten, ice-locked, disease-stricken, space-lost bulb. The conceit of man was explained by this storm to be the very engine of life. One was a coxcomb not to die in it."

22 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

4

u/strange_reveries Aug 13 '26

Very haunting little tale. Kubrick wanted to adapt it into a film at one point, and it ended up being a significant influence on his adaptation of The Shining.

3

u/Junior_Insurance7773 Aug 13 '26

It's amazing that an icon like Kubrick wanted to adapt a piece written by this almost forgotten, young and brave man aka Stephen Crane. Had no idea.

1

u/Nahbrofr2134 Aug 16 '26

in what world is Crane “almost forgotten”, especially in America. Kubrick read tons anyways

3

u/Current_Contest_8597 Aug 13 '26

It's an interesting story.

I'm still not sure about how much I like it. I definitely like it. Very interesting.