Play the Game!

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21625

Title

Play the Game!

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set in Southern California, this novel follows Honor Carmody, a spirited young woman who defies traditional expectations to run alongside boys rather than sit at home. When her beloved friend Jimsy King is expelled from Stanford for protesting drinking restrictions, Honor's world shatters. The story explores themes of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and the intense bond between friends, culminating in a dramatic rescue in Mexico that forces Honor to confront her true feelings.

Summary up to 500 words

In Ruth Comfort Mitchell's 1924 novel *Play the Game!*, the narrative centers on Honor Carmody, a robust and selfless young woman who defies societal expectations by preferring the company of boys to girls. Her life revolves around her best friend, James "Jimsy" King, a football star at Los Angeles High and later Stanford University. While Honor's mother and stepfather, Stephen Lorimer, struggle to understand her unconventional nature, Honor remains devoted to Jimsy, even assisting him with his studies to ensure his athletic eligibility. The plot takes a dark turn when Jimsy is expelled from Stanford for marching in a protest against faculty restrictions on drinking. Although the expulsion is technically a disciplinary matter, Honor is devastated, viewing it as a personal failure of her friend. The story deepens with the introduction of Carter Van Meter, a childhood acquaintance Honor has known since boyhood. After a night of drinking and a passionate encounter in Europe, Honor sends a telegram to Carter from Italy. Carter interprets this message as a confession of love, but upon his return, Honor reveals the truth: she sent the message only to spare him the guilt of crossing the ocean, intending to marry Jimsy instead. The narrative reaches its climax when Jimsy is found wandering in the Mexican desert, dehydrated and injured. Honor and Carter track him down with the help of a Yaqui guide. In a harrowing sequence, they bring Jimsy back to safety. It is then that the complex emotional truths emerge: Carter had lied to Jimsy about Honor's feelings to protect him from heartbreak, while Honor had been secretly in love with Jimsy all along. The novel concludes with the resolution of these tangled emotions and the safety of the group, highlighting the depth of Honor's character and the profound sacrifices made for friendship and love.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21625.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21625.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-06 18:11 UTC

Categories

• Psychology
• Romance
• Fiction