Better than Play: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Better than Play: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Better than Play is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Quiller-Couch, Mabel (1865–1924).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Better than Play" by Mabel Quiller-Couch is a fictional work written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Bella Hender, a young girl living in a cottage with her siblings and an unkind aunt, Aunt Emma. The narrative explores themes of family dynamics, domestic struggles, and the search for happiness through small acts of kindness and responsibility. At the start of the novel, the Hender household is depicted as a place filled with tension and discontent, particularly on washing days when the children feel stifled and Aunt Emma's temper flares. The chapter introduces Bella, who is burdened by the demands of her aunt and longs for happier times when her mother was alive. As she navigates her aunt's harsh treatment and the chaos of the household, Bella's love for her siblings shines through, prompting her to make sacrifices for their well-being. The chapter sets the tone for Bella's journey of finding purpose and joy in caring for her family, foreshadowing her determination to improve their home life despite the adversity they face.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Better than Play
- Author credits: Quiller-Couch, Mabel (1865–1924)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Christian life -- Fiction
- Conduct of life -- Fiction
- Motherless families -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


