The Art of Youth by Nicholas Delbanco is a reflective examination of the brief yet impactful lives of three artistic geniuses who attained profound accomplishments in their youth. Stephen Crane, who captured the essence of the Civil War in The Red Badge of Courage; Dora Carrington, the undervalued British painter with a unique vision; and George Gershwin, the composer whose music like Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess became emblematic of an era, all serve as subjects of Delbanco's resonant exploration. Intersecting lives marked by early success and untimely ends, Delbanco delves into the heartache of their premature departures and the lasting legacy of their work, all the while threading in his own narrative of early achievement and the wisdom that comes with age.