Ghost of Christmas pasty! Cornwall inspired Dickens
CHARLES Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol was inspired by his visits to Cornwall, a historian has claimed.
Many believe the 1843 novel was born from his concern for the poor and deprived of London.
But Barry West, 53, says he has proof that the West Country county was behind large parts of it. He said the book’s Jacob Marley was based on London physician Dr Miles Marley, who retired to Cornwall. Dickens dined with him and reportedly said during the meal: “By the end of the year, your name will be a household word.” Barry, from St Austell, said: “I have no doubt this is the Marley the writer got the name from.” He found Marley’s grave in Port Isaac and believes Cornwall inspired other aspects of the novel, such as descriptions of landscapes.