The Game — Jack London

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 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

Genevieve saw his muscles relax while he was yet in the air and she heard the thud of his head on the canvas The noise of the yelling house died suddenly The referee stooping over the inert body was counting the seconds Ponta tottered and fell to his knees He struggled to his feet swaying back and forth as he tried to sweep the audience with his hatred His legs were trembling and bending under him he was choking and sobbing fighting to breathe He reeled backward and saved himself from falling by a blind clutching for the ropes He clung there drooping and bending and giving in all his body his head upon his chest until the referee counted the fatal tenth second and pointed to him in token that he had won He received no applause and he squirmed through the ropes snakelike into the arms of his seconds who helped him to the floor and supported him down the aisle into the crowd Joe remained where he had fallen His seconds carried him into his corner and placed him on the stool Men began climbing into the ring curious to see but were roughly shoved out by the policemen who were already there

Many patterns of carpet lay rolled out before them on the floor two of Brussels showed the beginning of their quest and its ending in that direction while a score of ingrains lured their eyes and prolonged the debate between desire pocket book The head of the department did them the honor of waiting upon them himself or did Joe the honor as she well knew for she had noted the open mouthed awe of the elevator boy who brought them up Nor had she been blind to the marked respect shown Joe by the urchins and groups of young fellows on corners when she walked with him in their own neighborhood down at the west end of the town