#BookRecommendation #Christmas-‘Miss Marley’ by Vanessa LaFaye and Rebecca Mascull

To say this small novella touches your heart is an understatement . The combined talents of  Vanessa LaFaye and Rebecca Mascull (who finished it after Vanessa sadly died in February 2018) brings Dickensian London to life. The prequel to ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘Miss Marley‘ supposes the events which led to Jacob and Ebeneezer Scrooge meeting, as seen  through the eyes of his younger sister, Clara Belle Marley.
From the description of the street urchins to the social structure of the working classes, and their fears, to the way that they get into debt and how that is exploited, is vividly evoked and oddly prescient given the state of modern living.

That actions have consequences during life, and also afterwards, is brought home to the reader as Jacob becomes obsessed with never returning to his impoverished roots, and his determination is sourced in the accruing of wealth. However, in obtaining his financial security, he exploits the very people that he and Clara used to be.

Clara, however , is determined to use her position for good and to improve the lives of those who are teetering between life and death.
The values of love and the value of money, versus what it can buy are explored through the love that Clara has for Jacob, and her hope that he could be the person she thought he hoped he was . It is tragic and sad but perfectly matches the tone of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and will definitely be one for my seasonal reads at Christmas time!

It is a beautiful little hardback that belongs under any Christmas tree, and deserves to be bought as a present for that bookish person in your life. Also worth checking out are Rebecca Mascull’s other fiction and Vanessa LaFaye’s WordPress site (Link below).

https://vanessalafaye.wordpress.com/

https://rebeccamascull.co.uk/