Jacob Marley

A number of years ago, while we were living in the suburbs of Chicago, my wife and I went to the Guthrie Theatre to see a production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". This classic story of the redemption of old Ebeneezer Scrooge had always been one of my favorite stories, and it had been a tradition of mine to read it on Christmas Eve. Having seen a few productions before back in New England, I was looking forward to both the play, and a fun night on the town.

The actor who played the part of Scrooge was a man by the name of Tom Mula. He did a phenomenal job that night and literally held me mesmerized at times. When the show was over, we walked through the lobby where I noticed a display stand of books and other holiday items for sale. There was one small book that for some reason grabbed my attention. I picked it up, read the title, and saw that the author was none other than Tom Mula, the actor I had just watched play the lead role of Scrooge. I bought it on the spot. The book, entitled "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" has become one of my all-time favorite stories, and I have given copies of it away to many of my friends over the years. Unfortunately it is no longer published, but is easy to find via amazon.com through used booksellers. If I had my way, it would be required reading for everyone as they enter into the holiday season.

My understanding is that the author got the idea for this book at a post-show dinner, when a little girl went up to him and asked a simple, but startling question: "Why did Marley help Scrooge in the first place?" Mula found himself fascinated by this question. "Why would Marley help Scrooge?" "What happened to Marley afterwards?" "Is there no redemption for Marley?" His book is an attempt to answer those questions by re-imagining Dicken's classic through the viewpoint of Marley. It is a wonderful and deeply profound journey that Mula creates for us, as we see why Marley intervenes, and what Marley discovers about life and love.

This is the season of gift giving. Why not give yourself a gift that will move you this holiday season, and for many years to come? Go and order yourself a copy of Tom Mula's "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol". You will be so glad that you did!

photo by Michal Daniels