Jacob T. Marley

By: R. William Bennett

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 4 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Marley was dead to begin with...."

These chillingly familiar words begin the classic Christmas tale of remorse and redemption in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Now R. William Bennett rewinds the story and focuses the spotlight on Scrooge’s miserly business partner, Jacob T. Marley, who was allowed to return as a ghost to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Why was Marley allowed to return? And why hadn't he been given the same chance as Ebenezer Scrooge?

Or had he?

Written with a voice reminiscent of Dickens, Jacob T. Marley is a masterfully crafted story of remorse and redemption, sure to become a Christmas favorite.

©2011 Burgess Adams Inc. (P)2011 Shadow Mountain

This is my favorite book! I listen to it all year

this is the book that lifts my spirits when I am feeding down. it reminds me of the blessings I have and the Joy that is mine if I will open my heart to it.

I kept thinking I was listening to Dickens

This book was beautifully written with the style and flair of Charles Dickens himself. The story gives some back story to the beloved classic “A Christmas Carol”. A beautiful message of redemption and giving is timely for the holiday season. The narrator was absolute perfection with a British accent, perfect articulation, and just the right amount of heart and enthusiasm. I listened to the entire book in one afternoon while I worked. One of my top three all-time Audible favorites!

I Save My Five Stars for Books like This!

Would you listen to Jacob T. Marley again? Why?

I would, and I have listened to this again. And I'm looking forward to listening to this again next Christmas. Though there have been other books from Jacob Marley's perspective, this is so creative, so well-structured, creates strands that are weaved together so well, I can't imagine how his story could be any better.

What other book might you compare Jacob T. Marley to and why?

If you haven't listened to Simon Vance's interpretation of "A Christmas Carol," do so right after listening to this. You'll find yourself delighted and thinking, "Aha! But REALLY what's going on is...!"

What does Simon Vance bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Simon Vance brings such a sensitivity to the words, with excellent pacing and a heightened sense of drama where it works best. This is such an emotion-packed journey, truly, you'll be glad you listened to both books together.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I sobbed like a baby. Hopelessness, redemption, suspense that makes you wonder what the hell is going on/is going to happen. Really, it doesn't get any better than this. And the "T." that stands for his middle name? Well, there's a GREAT story that goes with it!

Any additional comments?

I sent this book to my mom as a gift because it's a story and delivery that just need to be listened to. This was her first audiobook ever, and I told her to keep tissues handy. Her response was the same as my own: this is a Christmas book, a wonderful story for the ages. Bravo to author and narrator!

wonderful

I loved this story. It gave a most enjoyable look into the life of Marley. With a nice conclusion of The Christmas Carol. I will read it every year as I do the original.

Again I must say I Love This Story. From beginning to end it is wonderful. I read it before I read The Christmas Carol to help give me insight into the story. I will continue to read it every year.

Could have been written by Dickens himself!

This is an incredible addition to “A Christmas Carol. Both of the stories combined make the classic tale so much more expansive and satisfying. I will never be able to read “A Christmas Carol “ again without interjecting the expanded story found in”Jacob T. Marley “. The style of writing for this book is so similar in style that it could have been written by Dickens himself!
Simon Vance is spot-on as usual and his voice creates the atmosphere that brings the listener right into a Dickens Christmas setting.
This will be a new Christmas favorite. Thank you R. William Bennett for bringing such an amazing story of love and redemption to us, and for telling us “the rest of the story!”

wonderful book. I would recommend it to anyone.

I love the story that Charles Dickens wrote, and this was true to that and added upon it in a great way. Makes me want to be more kind and giving.

Absolutely fantastic!

It's a Wonderful expansion to the fantastic Christmas Carol. A shift in perspective that we could all do well to remember anytime of year but it's especially a treasure to remember this time of year. I would highly recommend it, you won't regret it.

Perfectly captures the essence of Dickens.

The original A Christmas Carol is one of my all time favorite works of literature and as such holds a special place in my heart. I debated whether I would listen to R. William Bennett’s novella as I feared it would pale from the original and leave me disappointed but my reservations were proved decidedly unfounded. Jacob T. Marley is a wonderfully crafted tale that seamlessly starts where Dickens would later continue and so beautifully blends the two stories into a cohesive whole that I could believe that this was the vision Dickens himself saw and wrote. Mr. Bennett’s retelling of the story as seen through the perspective of Jacob Marley is first rate narrated by the marvelous Simon Vance. Prepare for a treat and give yourself an early holiday present I know you will love as much as do I.

Lovely twist on a well known tale

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Jacob Marley and experiencing how his relationship with Ebenezer Scrooge helped make Scrooge the mean spirited and parsimonious man he became. While we associate Scrooge with Christmas, this is a story that can be enjoyed at any time. I highly recommend it.

Great way to start the Christmas season

Christmas is a great time of year to reflect on caring for and giving to others. Not just how it will help me but how I can truly make a difference. I enjoyed the story.

Superb!

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

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.

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.

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.

awesome

It could from the master himself awesome pleasant distraction from todays fast pace of everyday life

Very good

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

Takes your breath away

Heartbreakingly beautiful. I cried with the characters of this story and felt my heart soften with them. I would listen to this 100 times over and continue to feel my soul strengthen with it.

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.