Having read Miss Marley I had to reread the story that had inspired it. Jacob Marley had always been a peripheral character and I had never thought about Scrooge’s past. Now I read the story with a new insight. They had both been enthusiastic and likable young men but a grim determination not to be poor had overtaken both of them and turned them into money-grabbing monsters. I had always regarded them as simply greedy and mean but Miss Marley shows that both had good reason to fear poverty. There are a great many different editions available but I like this one as it slips easily into a pocket.

Jane

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