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Jacob T. Marley
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a holiday favorite and this new book, written in the style of Dickens, tells the story from the perspective of the character who was a ruthless taskmaster business partner who taught and influenced Scrooge and then saved him from the brink of a terrible fate.
Jacob T. Marley is to A Christmas Carol as the world-famous Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz and is a masterfully crafted story teaching us, once again, the true meaning of Christmas.
Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins
Jacob T. Marley is to A Christmas Carol as the world-famous Wicked is to The Wizard of Oz and is a masterfully crafted story teaching us, once again, the true meaning of Christmas.
Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins
5 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,316 reviews
December 25, 2017
🎄🎄🎄 Merry Christmas! Everyone! 🎄🎄🎄
4 stars for this Christmas story with a new perspective ... Jacob T Marley is Ebenezer Scrooge’s guide in the classic Christmas storyA Christmas Carol. This story gives you a look at both Jacob and Ebenezer‘s backstory leading up to the classic tale... why is Jacob now so determined to change Scrooge‘s perspective and ultimately his life?
You also get a glimpse again of the visits of the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future..... this time you get to see it through Jacob‘s eyes.... you also get treated to everyone’s favorite tiny Tim.....
I thought this was a nice twist to an old classic and would definitely recommend for a holiday read!
🎧🎧🎧
5 stars for Simon Vances amazing audio narration that made me feel as though I was reading a proper Christmas story!❤️💚
4 stars for this Christmas story with a new perspective ... Jacob T Marley is Ebenezer Scrooge’s guide in the classic Christmas storyA Christmas Carol. This story gives you a look at both Jacob and Ebenezer‘s backstory leading up to the classic tale... why is Jacob now so determined to change Scrooge‘s perspective and ultimately his life?
You also get a glimpse again of the visits of the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future..... this time you get to see it through Jacob‘s eyes.... you also get treated to everyone’s favorite tiny Tim.....
I thought this was a nice twist to an old classic and would definitely recommend for a holiday read!
🎧🎧🎧
5 stars for Simon Vances amazing audio narration that made me feel as though I was reading a proper Christmas story!❤️💚
January 3, 2025
What a wonderful book to place on the shelf next to Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The author does a good job of lifting the secondary character of Jacob Marley out of the story of Ebenezer Scrooge and rounds it out, filling in background on just who Marley was, what type of family he came from, and how his own choices created the creature that appears to Scrooge on Christmas Eve. I like how the author describes the character of Marley: "For the corrupt character of Jacob Thelonius Marley was not made of deity; rather, it was a morbid distortion of who he had started out to be, a sad and rough-hewn statue chipped to existence from the stone of his potential by choice after choice of the man himself." The fact that Marley was named after a grandfather, Thelonius, who was highly esteemed and loved in his community, makes the rough-hewn character of Marley even more of a tragedy. To use the lattice of Dickens' ghosts visiting Scrooge to teach one more soul lessons of his life that "might have been" was intriguing and powerful. In the end, to read of the ultimate sacrifice that Marley would make for his partner in business, brings the story to a delightful finishing climax.
Very rare occurrence. I read this book twice.
I am a slow reader, and refrain from reading over ground I've already trodden.
However, this is a short, quick, enriching read. And so for my book groups sake, I re-read it.
Again, I was enthralled in the back story of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Though there were things I felt were a bit trite in the stating, I still enjoyed the style of Charles D. used throughout. And the story is a great one of the weakness of human greed and self-preservation to the strength of looking at all mankind with the purpose of aiding them on their journey in mortality. I still highly recommend it as a great read, especially at Christmas.
Very rare occurrence. I read this book twice.
I am a slow reader, and refrain from reading over ground I've already trodden.
However, this is a short, quick, enriching read. And so for my book groups sake, I re-read it.
Again, I was enthralled in the back story of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Though there were things I felt were a bit trite in the stating, I still enjoyed the style of Charles D. used throughout. And the story is a great one of the weakness of human greed and self-preservation to the strength of looking at all mankind with the purpose of aiding them on their journey in mortality. I still highly recommend it as a great read, especially at Christmas.
December 28, 2017
A fun story to read at Christmas.
Told from the perspective of Jacob Marley, this is his story. Although there are some liberties taken with the original story, Marley's story is one of warmth, forgiveness and kindness; just like Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
This book hasn't the depth and feeling of Dickens but is an interesting background on Marley.
I particularly enjoyed it from when Marley engages with Scrooge and the ghosts visit. The last couple of chapters are interesting. I won't think coincidences in the same way again and will (I hope) see opportunity to help more readily and with more awareness.
A fun story; one I'm glad to add to my Christmas reading queue.
Told from the perspective of Jacob Marley, this is his story. Although there are some liberties taken with the original story, Marley's story is one of warmth, forgiveness and kindness; just like Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
This book hasn't the depth and feeling of Dickens but is an interesting background on Marley.
I particularly enjoyed it from when Marley engages with Scrooge and the ghosts visit. The last couple of chapters are interesting. I won't think coincidences in the same way again and will (I hope) see opportunity to help more readily and with more awareness.
A fun story; one I'm glad to add to my Christmas reading queue.
November 28, 2023
4.5🌟
I first read this book five Christmases ago. I enjoyed it even more this time (a book club read). It's such a good companion for A Christmas Carol. There are some beautiful truths about our call to be a blessing to others as we go through life (just as in Dickens' story).
***
Original Review (2017):
What a fun sequel to A Christmas Carol! This was a perfect holiday season read. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, and I love the way the author stayed true to the original story while giving a unique view into Jacob Marley, both before and after his death. If you are a stickler for sound Christian theology, don't look to this novel. But if you read it for the sheer joy of creativity, I think you'll be pleased. Merry Christmas!
I first read this book five Christmases ago. I enjoyed it even more this time (a book club read). It's such a good companion for A Christmas Carol. There are some beautiful truths about our call to be a blessing to others as we go through life (just as in Dickens' story).
***
Original Review (2017):
What a fun sequel to A Christmas Carol! This was a perfect holiday season read. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, and I love the way the author stayed true to the original story while giving a unique view into Jacob Marley, both before and after his death. If you are a stickler for sound Christian theology, don't look to this novel. But if you read it for the sheer joy of creativity, I think you'll be pleased. Merry Christmas!
December 20, 2017
Geniously written. A wonderful counterpart to A Christmas Carol. My full review will be on my booktube channel at http://Youtube.com/peterlikesbooks
December 15, 2017
A nice take on a beloved story. At times it did seem a bit forced, so that some facts could fit into the original story. Although it's not as touching as Dickens' initial book, it's still quite heart-warming, and I did enjoy the opportunity to read something christmas-y these days. Once again, the narrator, Simon Vance, took a book that could otherwise be rather indifferent and transformed it into something magical.
December 26, 2017
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t know if this was because this story was new to me but it affected me more than A Christmas Carol. We all know about Scrooge but what about Marley? What was his life like? Why did Scrooge get a chance at redemption and Marley did not? Or did he? We find out about Marley and how he and Scrooge met. They are perfect for each other. They are two peas in a pod.
We get to experience part of A Christmas Carol through this novel as we see the events occur through Marley. We also learn what happens to Scrooge after everything is said and done. This could be another reason I like this story more than a Christmas Carol. There is a completeness to it. I listened to this on audio after A Christmas Carol and I think that is how it should be read. Experience A Christmas Carol first then Jacob T. Marley for the complete story.
Jacob T. Marley is recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t know if this was because this story was new to me but it affected me more than A Christmas Carol. We all know about Scrooge but what about Marley? What was his life like? Why did Scrooge get a chance at redemption and Marley did not? Or did he? We find out about Marley and how he and Scrooge met. They are perfect for each other. They are two peas in a pod.
We get to experience part of A Christmas Carol through this novel as we see the events occur through Marley. We also learn what happens to Scrooge after everything is said and done. This could be another reason I like this story more than a Christmas Carol. There is a completeness to it. I listened to this on audio after A Christmas Carol and I think that is how it should be read. Experience A Christmas Carol first then Jacob T. Marley for the complete story.
Jacob T. Marley is recommended.
December 28, 2020
Listening to this book at Christmastime each year is a treasured tradition. Such a beautiful message of redemption!
January 9, 2024
4.5 Stars
I honestly was not a fan of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. I found the tiny book boring. It was one of the only times that I enjoyed the movies over the book. I was a bit reluctant on this story even though Dickens didn't write it. I was afraid it would have the same blah to it. As you can see by my rating, I was pleasantly surprised.
I love that this book asks the question of why the ghosts of Christmas spirit would visit Scrooge and give him a second chance and not Marley. That thought never crossed my mind until I saw this book and then I just had to know why. It was well done with seeing Marley grow and change right before your eyes. Quite a heart-warming story and perfect for the holiday season.
I honestly was not a fan of Dickens's A Christmas Carol. I found the tiny book boring. It was one of the only times that I enjoyed the movies over the book. I was a bit reluctant on this story even though Dickens didn't write it. I was afraid it would have the same blah to it. As you can see by my rating, I was pleasantly surprised.
I love that this book asks the question of why the ghosts of Christmas spirit would visit Scrooge and give him a second chance and not Marley. That thought never crossed my mind until I saw this book and then I just had to know why. It was well done with seeing Marley grow and change right before your eyes. Quite a heart-warming story and perfect for the holiday season.
December 22, 2025
Well done, Mr. Bennett. How often do we read a good book and write our own after-stories for one or more of the characters? I do this frequently with Dickens. I recently finished Martin Chuzzlewit and I wrote an entire afterlife for Tom Pinch (only in my head, of course.) Dickens is an author who particularly invites you to do that, because he writes even minor characters with such aplomb that they become real.
William Bennett did not confine his afterlife writing to his head, he put it on paper, and I am pleased to say that I am glad he did. The character he dares to pursue is Jacob T. Marley, the first ghost we meet in A Christmas Carol. We all know Marley, and he is absolutely dead. In fact, he is “dead to begin with.” So, one would assume an author might imagine a prelife story for Marley, but not an afterlife story; after all, he is in the actual afterlife when A Christmas Carol begins. If you entertain that thought, you have underestimated the cleverness of Mr. Bennett.
If you are, like me, often reluctant to have someone else piddle with a famous author’s characters or story, have no fear of this one. I highly recommend it, as it offers both the opportunity to spend a little unfamiliar time with a beloved story, while also reinforcing all the most important points Dickens made in his original. I cannot, of course, be sure, but I think Charles Dickens might have smiled and clapped his hands for this one.
William Bennett did not confine his afterlife writing to his head, he put it on paper, and I am pleased to say that I am glad he did. The character he dares to pursue is Jacob T. Marley, the first ghost we meet in A Christmas Carol. We all know Marley, and he is absolutely dead. In fact, he is “dead to begin with.” So, one would assume an author might imagine a prelife story for Marley, but not an afterlife story; after all, he is in the actual afterlife when A Christmas Carol begins. If you entertain that thought, you have underestimated the cleverness of Mr. Bennett.
If you are, like me, often reluctant to have someone else piddle with a famous author’s characters or story, have no fear of this one. I highly recommend it, as it offers both the opportunity to spend a little unfamiliar time with a beloved story, while also reinforcing all the most important points Dickens made in his original. I cannot, of course, be sure, but I think Charles Dickens might have smiled and clapped his hands for this one.
Read
December 24, 2025This was a great, quick holiday listen.
February 7, 2018
“If we do nothing but to remove a rock upon which someone might have tripped, though they may never know we did it, is this not our cause, our reason for life?”
This was a very satisfying companion to Dicken's Christmas Carol. 4.5 stars
This was a very satisfying companion to Dicken's Christmas Carol. 4.5 stars
December 18, 2025
I enjoyed this invention of Jacob Marley’s backstory before he visits Scrooge as a ghost who has been wandering the earth loaded down with heavy chains. This is a retelling of the classic “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. The story is told from Marley’s perspective as it seeks to explain the reasons he was condemned to haunt Scrooge. The first several chapters tell of his life as a child and provide the main instance from his school years that instigated his pride and greed which continued to grow over his lifetime. Marley’s greed was extreme – here seen as worse than Scrooge’s because he had no chance for redemption. This story explores the causes and eternal consequences of Marley’s greed.
Eventually the tale catches up to when he visits Scrooge on Christmas Eve to tell him of the 3 spirits that will visit him, and we see the original story from Marley’s perspective. Overall, this short book expands on Marley’s character (if you ever wondered what he may have been like) and gives readers a more in depth look at his life and what motivated him. It is very well written, and I felt had a similar vibe and feeling to it as “A Christmas Carol.”
December 13, 2017
This wasn't so much a prequel or even a retelling of A Christmas Carol as it was a line-by-line rehashing from a different point of view. It wasn't terrible, but it didn't add enough to be worth reading over the original.
I guess some things can't be improved on.
2 stars.
I guess some things can't be improved on.
2 stars.
December 19, 2020
Oh dear. Don't read this thinking it's going to 'fill the gaps' in A Christmas Carol. It definitely won't. I have three major criticisms of this book. The first, unforgivable flaw is the writing and language. It's written in a style that is supposed to mirror Dickens' own writing, and whilst it works in places, there are far too many others in which it doesn't. It's written in US English, so has z instead of s, favor instead of favour etc., coupled with far too many instances of US English words and phrases such as 'gotten' and 'come live with them' instead of 'come and live with them'. Even when you consider that some of the phrases and words in the original may have fallen out of use, these are glaring errors in something that purports to be written in the same style. Shame on the author, editor, and publisher. And before anyone cries xenophobia, it's a matter of bringing any non-US English speaker out of the book in short order. Any sense of expecting a reader to suspend their disbelief vanishes with such inattention to detail.
Secondly, the book is overly twee, sickly sweet in places, and has far too religious an angle. The spirits become a horde of God-channellers, and it's definitely at odds to the way Dickens described the Church. Making them agents of Christ was a step too far. There's one passage at the point that Jacob meets his spirit 'guide' and it is vomit-inducing tweeness. Proclaiming that he doesn't know what feeling has come across him, but that he knew it as a child, to which the spirit tells him he's feeling 'love'. Good grief.
Thirdly, the second half of the book, and I mean the whole second half, is essentially just a retelling of A Christmas Carol from the time of Jacob's visit. Whole swathes of the original text are reproduced verbatim, with a small number of additional sentences or paragraphs clumsily tacked on to try and explain things from the author's odd and disjointed view of why Jacob is there.
This is not the story of Jacob. His life is not explored, and when the author wants us to believe that Scrooge is only saved because Jacob takes on his bad deeds as his own, then wakes up rid of those debts of life, it makes a mockery of the story of redemption that Dickens told us. It is a gooey, mess of a book, and a shameless cash-grab, worthy of Scrooge and Marley themselves.
If you love A Christmas Carol as I do, please, don't read this book. It is AWFUL.
Secondly, the book is overly twee, sickly sweet in places, and has far too religious an angle. The spirits become a horde of God-channellers, and it's definitely at odds to the way Dickens described the Church. Making them agents of Christ was a step too far. There's one passage at the point that Jacob meets his spirit 'guide' and it is vomit-inducing tweeness. Proclaiming that he doesn't know what feeling has come across him, but that he knew it as a child, to which the spirit tells him he's feeling 'love'. Good grief.
Thirdly, the second half of the book, and I mean the whole second half, is essentially just a retelling of A Christmas Carol from the time of Jacob's visit. Whole swathes of the original text are reproduced verbatim, with a small number of additional sentences or paragraphs clumsily tacked on to try and explain things from the author's odd and disjointed view of why Jacob is there.
This is not the story of Jacob. His life is not explored, and when the author wants us to believe that Scrooge is only saved because Jacob takes on his bad deeds as his own, then wakes up rid of those debts of life, it makes a mockery of the story of redemption that Dickens told us. It is a gooey, mess of a book, and a shameless cash-grab, worthy of Scrooge and Marley themselves.
If you love A Christmas Carol as I do, please, don't read this book. It is AWFUL.
December 17, 2017
3 1/2 stars
This story focuses on the minor, but important, character out of A Christmas Carol, Jacob Marley. Or Jacob T. Marley as the title says - who knew his middle name was Thelonious?
Bennett has written a backstory of sorts, showing us how Scrooge and Marley became partners, how Marley influenced Scrooge and what led up to Marley visiting Ebenezer in his bedroom the night he tells of the three spirits who will visit Scrooge. We see that Marley out-scrooged Scrooge in his lack of caring for his fellow man and his miserliness! We also see the role that Marley played as the three spirits visit Ebenezer and what happens to both Marley's ghost and to Scrooge after that fateful night.
Written in the style of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is also a story of second chances and redemption, but here we see how love, compassion and forgiveness are key to that redemption. I really enjoyed this! I got swept up in the completely believable companion to A Christmas Carol, even if it did lay things on a little thick at times. Narration great, Simon Vance, was the perfect choice for this.
This story focuses on the minor, but important, character out of A Christmas Carol, Jacob Marley. Or Jacob T. Marley as the title says - who knew his middle name was Thelonious?
Bennett has written a backstory of sorts, showing us how Scrooge and Marley became partners, how Marley influenced Scrooge and what led up to Marley visiting Ebenezer in his bedroom the night he tells of the three spirits who will visit Scrooge. We see that Marley out-scrooged Scrooge in his lack of caring for his fellow man and his miserliness! We also see the role that Marley played as the three spirits visit Ebenezer and what happens to both Marley's ghost and to Scrooge after that fateful night.
Written in the style of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is also a story of second chances and redemption, but here we see how love, compassion and forgiveness are key to that redemption. I really enjoyed this! I got swept up in the completely believable companion to A Christmas Carol, even if it did lay things on a little thick at times. Narration great, Simon Vance, was the perfect choice for this.
December 24, 2017
This was a well done prequel. I thorough enjoyed it. The message enhanced the original inspirations included in A Christmas Carol. Highly recommend.
December 27, 2017
Another wonderful holiday story to read this time of the year. In this book a sort of prequel about Marley the ghost, it begins, "Marley was dead." So the journey focuses on his early life and his life as a business partner with Ebenezer Scrooge. Marley is seen as a miserly and mean man who influenced Scrooge to be the person he became. It is an interesting view of Marley and how he sought to redeem himself and save Scrooge from the evil person he was. It explains why he was so evil and what he did to save Scrooge and ultimately himself.
This is a well done story and is recommended as an additional read to the real thing. I would not rely on this as the main story or replacement as I think nothing can beat it. The real story was the basis of this one and it could not have been written without it. This is a good read during the holidays and the theme and process of redemption and forgiveness is universal and so needed this time of the year and with the world today.
This is a well done story and is recommended as an additional read to the real thing. I would not rely on this as the main story or replacement as I think nothing can beat it. The real story was the basis of this one and it could not have been written without it. This is a good read during the holidays and the theme and process of redemption and forgiveness is universal and so needed this time of the year and with the world today.
January 1, 2025
I was leery about reading this - adding to Dickens???? But multiple people I live with read it this season and raved, so I dove in.
W.O.W. Amazing. It was actually possible to add more depth to Dickens' already wonderful story, and I think Dickens would be pleased. You've got time - take a walk with Jacob T. Marley this Christmas.
Beautiful story of love, changing hearts, second chances, and redemption.
W.O.W. Amazing. It was actually possible to add more depth to Dickens' already wonderful story, and I think Dickens would be pleased. You've got time - take a walk with Jacob T. Marley this Christmas.
Beautiful story of love, changing hearts, second chances, and redemption.
December 26, 2023
Christmas Carol Fanfiction
This book is nostalgic because I wrote a book report on it in Fifth Grade.
While I love the idea of Jacob Marley pleading in the afterlife on Scrooge’s behalf, on a repeat read through I found a lot of this book not as entertaining as I used to. The focus is on Jacob, which is fine, except for the ending, which steals the power of Scrooge’s change at the end of the ghostly visits. Entertaining, but not a necessary read. I might skip it next year.
This book is nostalgic because I wrote a book report on it in Fifth Grade.
While I love the idea of Jacob Marley pleading in the afterlife on Scrooge’s behalf, on a repeat read through I found a lot of this book not as entertaining as I used to. The focus is on Jacob, which is fine, except for the ending, which steals the power of Scrooge’s change at the end of the ghostly visits. Entertaining, but not a necessary read. I might skip it next year.
December 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
I liked this one. It was thought provoking and added some good insight and depth to the beloved story.
I do feel that the author took a little too much liberty with some aspects but the story shines just as brightly from a second perspective.
I liked this one. It was thought provoking and added some good insight and depth to the beloved story.
I do feel that the author took a little too much liberty with some aspects but the story shines just as brightly from a second perspective.
December 14, 2017
A Christmas Carol from Jacob Marleys point of view... something a bit different. Wasn't sure to begin with but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great narrator too
December 18, 2021
Rounded up. “Marley was dead, to begin with.” We don’t really know much about Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s erstwhile partner who brings the Spirits to his bedside. This book seeks to fill in the gaps in our knowledge by focusing on Marley’s origin story as well as his demise. Ultimately a story of redemption for Marley and for Scrooge, this book demonstrates how our actions have both intentional and unintentional consequences, but we all have chance to change our ways.
December 27, 2024
An outstanding book!
December 20, 2018
Rating: I fully enjoyed it 🤗. Updated Rating upon re-read, I added 1 star
Emotions: Satisfied, content, curious, glad.
Recommended if you like: Dicken's A Christmas Carol, retellings, villian's backstories, prequels, Christmas centric stories.
I love Dicken's A Christmas Carol, (the story, not so much the actual novel), and around this time in the year I like to watch an adaptation; so far I've watched a lot of them, it's one of my favorite things to do on the holidays. When I found out about this book I wanted to read it right away, and I'm very glad I did.
We get the backstory of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's partner. We see the relationship the two had and the role Marley played in Scrooge's road to perdition and subsequent redemption.
The writing style is more modern than Dicken's and less flowery, witch I liked. It still had that familiar feeling, reminiscent of the original story. This one is better paced and to me it was a more enjoyable read than the original.
I liked it, it was interesting, imaginative and gives us another perspective of the original story, making it more complete. I recommend it.
Update: I enjoyed it more than the first time, I had forgotten pretty much everything 👵🏻. This time I was more invested and I got to grasp all the details linking the original story to this prequel/ sequel.
I Recommend it a lot.
Emotions: Satisfied, content, curious, glad.
Recommended if you like: Dicken's A Christmas Carol, retellings, villian's backstories, prequels, Christmas centric stories.
I love Dicken's A Christmas Carol, (the story, not so much the actual novel), and around this time in the year I like to watch an adaptation; so far I've watched a lot of them, it's one of my favorite things to do on the holidays. When I found out about this book I wanted to read it right away, and I'm very glad I did.
We get the backstory of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's partner. We see the relationship the two had and the role Marley played in Scrooge's road to perdition and subsequent redemption.
The writing style is more modern than Dicken's and less flowery, witch I liked. It still had that familiar feeling, reminiscent of the original story. This one is better paced and to me it was a more enjoyable read than the original.
I liked it, it was interesting, imaginative and gives us another perspective of the original story, making it more complete. I recommend it.
Update: I enjoyed it more than the first time, I had forgotten pretty much everything 👵🏻. This time I was more invested and I got to grasp all the details linking the original story to this prequel/ sequel.
I Recommend it a lot.
December 29, 2018
If you love The Christmas Carol, you will love this book. It tells the tale from the point of view of Jacob T. Marley.
It delves into his life, how he met Scrooge and how he made Scrooge the way he was. It's about redemption and teaching people forgiveness.
Definitely a great companion to the original classic, great to read aloud, read alone or hear from audiobooks.
It delves into his life, how he met Scrooge and how he made Scrooge the way he was. It's about redemption and teaching people forgiveness.
Definitely a great companion to the original classic, great to read aloud, read alone or hear from audiobooks.
December 17, 2017
A Christmas Carol is my all time favorite Christmas story so I may be a little biased, but I really enjoyed this book about Jacob Thelonious Marley. It was well told and enhanced Dickens' classic.
June 16, 2015
Jacob Thelonius Marley is born under humble circumstances, but has great potential to do good in the world. As he grows older and pride begins to infect his previously noble heart, a chain of events is set in motion that leads to his eventual meeting with Ebenezer Scrooge and their business partnership, his own miserable demise, and his subsequent ghostly appearance to Scrooge on that fateful Christmas Eve.
So I read this after finishing (and not very much liking) Tom Mula's Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, and the interesting thing is that I expected the first to be great and this one to be so-so (for whatever reasons), but found it to be just the other way around. While Mula's version of Jacob Marley's perspective was cynical and lame, this one was sincere and charming! It was consistent with Dickens's style and tone (though not perfectly -- what author today could be?), and it had the same feeling of heart and soul that the original had. I loved reading about Jacob T. from his early childhood onward, and seeing how he became so hard-hearted, and how instrumental he was in creating the miserly monster that was Ebenezer Scrooge (since Marley was evidently even worse, hard as it may be to imagine). There were a few surprises on the way regarding how Marley's and Scrooge's paths intertwined, and how fate brought them together little by little, until the time came for Marley to repent of his wrongdoings, and assist and instruct Scrooge in an attempt to do likewise. I never required more information about Jacob Marley, I thought he performed his part well enough in his brief but impactful appearance to Scrooge, but it was still nice to have some faithful conjecture as to what happened to him before and after that time. It seemed to have the same gravity as the original (if not due to Marley's chains and cash boxes, which seemed to lighten as time went by, or at least less mention was made of them), and it was fun to see familiar scenes through another perspective, and to have a little bit more of the transcendental elements fleshed out as well.
Hailed to do for A Christmas Carol what Wicked does for The Wizard of Oz, this book is a faithful companion story to Dickens's Christmas classic, providing intriguing information about Marley's past in a manner and style consistent with the original ghost story. It's a fresh look at the well-known and well-loved tale of Christmas and redemption, and I think I would like to own this and re-read it in years to come, even if not quite as often as the Dickens original.
So I read this after finishing (and not very much liking) Tom Mula's Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, and the interesting thing is that I expected the first to be great and this one to be so-so (for whatever reasons), but found it to be just the other way around. While Mula's version of Jacob Marley's perspective was cynical and lame, this one was sincere and charming! It was consistent with Dickens's style and tone (though not perfectly -- what author today could be?), and it had the same feeling of heart and soul that the original had. I loved reading about Jacob T. from his early childhood onward, and seeing how he became so hard-hearted, and how instrumental he was in creating the miserly monster that was Ebenezer Scrooge (since Marley was evidently even worse, hard as it may be to imagine). There were a few surprises on the way regarding how Marley's and Scrooge's paths intertwined, and how fate brought them together little by little, until the time came for Marley to repent of his wrongdoings, and assist and instruct Scrooge in an attempt to do likewise. I never required more information about Jacob Marley, I thought he performed his part well enough in his brief but impactful appearance to Scrooge, but it was still nice to have some faithful conjecture as to what happened to him before and after that time. It seemed to have the same gravity as the original (if not due to Marley's chains and cash boxes, which seemed to lighten as time went by, or at least less mention was made of them), and it was fun to see familiar scenes through another perspective, and to have a little bit more of the transcendental elements fleshed out as well.
Hailed to do for A Christmas Carol what Wicked does for The Wizard of Oz, this book is a faithful companion story to Dickens's Christmas classic, providing intriguing information about Marley's past in a manner and style consistent with the original ghost story. It's a fresh look at the well-known and well-loved tale of Christmas and redemption, and I think I would like to own this and re-read it in years to come, even if not quite as often as the Dickens original.
December 23, 2018
I read this at the recommendation of the great Brad Rees. I loved this book. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we have one another - both redemptive and otherwise.
December 15, 2011
"Jacob realized that he was no more than an entry in Scrooge's ledger-in an account that was now being closed. "
"What a wretched man," Marley thought. "Whatever in the world made him?"
Whether it was seconds or minutes, Marley did not know, but he paused so completely he thought his heart had stopped beating.
"I did," were his own words that came to him.
"I did, I made Ebenezer Scrooge."
These are some of Jacob T. Marley's final thoughts as he lays on his death bed in front of Scrooge. While we all know of Dicken's famous story of Scrooge's second chance, what of Marley's? Since Scrooge was given that redeeming second chance, how come Marley did not? Or, did he? This beautifully written story in the style of Dickens tells of what happens to Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner before and after his death.
Readers see as the kind, deeply-loved Jacob Thelonius Marley is crafted into the cold, unforgiving man we know as the haunting ghost from A Christmas Carol. The story depicts Marley's life and his first encounter with Scrooge, as well as his ghostly, well-known meeting with Scrooge. As Scrooge's heart is changed through the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, so is Marley's perspective expanded. Readers will despise,be sorrowful, and come to love Marley and his character. This masterfully written story entwines the two men's backgrounds so creatively it will keep you eating up each page while warming your heart, as well as teaching of compassion, sacrifice, and forgiveness. This new tale is sure to warm your heart during the holiday season, as well as throughout the year!
"What a wretched man," Marley thought. "Whatever in the world made him?"
Whether it was seconds or minutes, Marley did not know, but he paused so completely he thought his heart had stopped beating.
"I did," were his own words that came to him.
"I did, I made Ebenezer Scrooge."
These are some of Jacob T. Marley's final thoughts as he lays on his death bed in front of Scrooge. While we all know of Dicken's famous story of Scrooge's second chance, what of Marley's? Since Scrooge was given that redeeming second chance, how come Marley did not? Or, did he? This beautifully written story in the style of Dickens tells of what happens to Ebenezer Scrooge's business partner before and after his death.
Readers see as the kind, deeply-loved Jacob Thelonius Marley is crafted into the cold, unforgiving man we know as the haunting ghost from A Christmas Carol. The story depicts Marley's life and his first encounter with Scrooge, as well as his ghostly, well-known meeting with Scrooge. As Scrooge's heart is changed through the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, so is Marley's perspective expanded. Readers will despise,be sorrowful, and come to love Marley and his character. This masterfully written story entwines the two men's backgrounds so creatively it will keep you eating up each page while warming your heart, as well as teaching of compassion, sacrifice, and forgiveness. This new tale is sure to warm your heart during the holiday season, as well as throughout the year!
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