Jacob Thelonius Marley

Well enjoyed, & a beautiful re-telling of the classic tale.
The main accusation here could be that the author is trying to reinvent the wheel, but I think it works. The reason for the four stars is the mild plagiarism, I will say mild because the main protagonist is (quite obviously) central to Dickens’ classic tale & therefore must obviously interweave with it.
Enjoy this sentimental yet well crafted tale on its own merits & as an accompaniment to the obviously superior original classic, & nothing will disappoint.
Simon Vance is an admirable narrator who I’ve heard many times.
Well recommended !

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Beautiful, moving, masterful

I have read several books which explore the characters of a Christmas Carol, including many that explore the story of Marley. Never have I come across one so beautiful, so moving and so tender as this. The author clearly believes that Marley was never ever beyond redemption, even though he had a cold heart and a cynical outlook on life. To anyone reading this book, the message of everlasting love, redemption and forgiveness are common themes throughout the story and we see through the eyes of both Marley and Scrooge how the bond between them was forged and subsequently broken and re-forged again. This book is overflowing with love and the Christmas spirit, Charles Dickens would have been proud of this novel which captures the essence of a Christmas Carol so perfectly and is heady with the language of the period. No Stone has been unturned in making this book a perfect companion to a Christmas Carol, in fact so neatly does it fit both as a prequel, a sequel and an afterward that I can’t think of any gaps in the story that have been left unfilled. You could read these both side-by-side and they would fit like two pieces of a perfect jigsaw. This is splendid and well worth your time and investment.

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1 person found this helpful

Absolute must for lovers of A Christmas Carol.

I cannot praise this book enough. It hits all the notes from Dickens' original and expands upon it in the most genius of ways. Bennett send to channel CD with his writing style.

The only slight problem I have with it is the quasi-religious parts that seem to refer to God or angels and a heaven of sorts.

I will listen to or read this book every December, as an appetiser for Dickens' greatest work.

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What a brilliant book

I love A Christmas Carol, it’s one of the best stories ever written and I didn’t think anything would come close. However, the emotion, atmosphere and message of this story is perfect. Highly recommended. Narration is also spot on.

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Superb!

An excellent sequel to the much loved classic Christmas tale. The story is compelling and the author captures the spirit of Dickens well.

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1 person found this helpful

Sentimental but true to Dickens’ spirit

Enjoyable and very well read. I could have done without the Americanisms - gotten being the main offender - but a nice way of looking at an overfamiliar story from a different perpective.

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Very good

A nice new perspective on the Scrooge and Marley story.... Vance does a good job of the narration

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excellent

it's a fabulous story, written and performed really well. a great Christmas tale. Reading this will become a Christmas tradition.

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The book Dickens should have written 170 years ago

This was very much a spur of the moment purchase but I am so glad I've had chance to experience it. The writing is superb and captures the feel of the Dickens era novel but won't alienate the modern reader.

The narration is very good and I will be looking out for more of Simon Vance's work.

The story runs very naturally and there is no feeling that there has been any rush to cram in plot points just so it meets exactly with A Christmas Carol - it just does. The mark of good writing.

I hate giving away spoilers so all I will add is that Marley's life, death and subsequent afterlife make fascinating reading/listening.

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2 people found this helpful

A gem of a book

This book has been beautifully written in the style of Dickens and supplements 'A Christmas carol'. It is a gentle story, sympathetically narrated and both heartwarming and uplifting. Lovely to enjoy in the run up to Christmas. Highly recommended.

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