The Game (London novel) explained

The Game
Author:Jack London
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Sporting/Boxing novel
Publisher:Macmillan
Pub Date:June 1905[1]
Media Type:Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages:39
Oclc:49293889

The Game is a 1905 novel by Jack London about a twenty-year-old boxer, Joe, who meets his death in the ring. London was a sports reporter for the Oakland Herald and based the novel on his personal observations.[2]

Overview

Joe Fleming earns his livelihood as a sailmaker and supports his mother and sisters. He adds to his income by taking part in prize-fights at sporting clubs He is due to be married to Genevieve, who works in the Silversteins' candy shop. Joe agrees to give up "the game" but asks that Genevieve watch his last fight, on the eve of their wedding, and she reluctantly agrees. The story is told from Genevieve's point of view.[3] [4] [5]

Background

This is one of at least four stories London wrote about boxing, the others being "A Piece of Steak" (1909), "The Mexican" (1911), and The Abysmal Brute (1911).[4] This writing, and especially The Game, helped to make boxing a respectable literary topic.[5]

When London was accused of inaccuracy in The Game he answered his critic with "I have had these experiences and it was out of these experiences, plus a fairly intimate knowledge of prize-fighting in general, that I wrote The Game."[5]

The book is alleged to have persuaded Gene Tunney to retire from boxing after he read the book in the late 1920s.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.jacklondons.net/Fiction_of_jack_london/Booklist.html Jack Londons.net
  2. Web site: С. Батурин.. ru:Биография: Джек Лондон (1876 - 1916). http://az.lib.ru/l/london_d/text_0030.shtml. ru.
  3. http://www.jacklondons.net/writings/TheGame/toc.html Jack Londons.net
  4. http://librivox.org/the-game-by-jack-london/ Librivox.org
  5. http://www.feedbooks.com/book/2853/the-game Feedbooks
  6. http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/ Sonoma State University