The First Behind-the-Scenes Account of Life With the Ravens at Britain’s Most Famous National Monument
For centuries, the Tower of London has been home to a group of famous avian residents: the ravens. Each year they are seen by millions of visitors, and they have become as integral a part of the Tower as its ancient stones themselves. But their role is even more important than that – legend has it that if the ravens should ever leave, the Tower will crumble into dust, and great harm will befall the kingdom.
One man is personally responsible for ensuring that such a disaster never comes to pass – the Ravenmaster. The current holder of the position is Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife, and in this fascinating, entertaining and touching book he memorably describes the ravens’ formidable intelligence, their idiosyncrasies and their occasionally wicked sense of humour.
Over the years in which he has cared for the physical and mental well-being of these remarkable birds, Christopher Skaife has come to know them like no one else. They are not the easiest of charges – as he reveals, they are much given to mischief, and their escapades have often led him into unlikely, and sometimes even undignified, situations.
Now, in the first intimate behind-the-scenes account of life with the ravens of the Tower, the Ravenmaster himself shares the folklore, history and superstitions surrounding both the birds and their home. The result is a compelling, inspiring and irreverent story that will delight and surprise anyone with an interest in British history or animal behaviour.
THE RAVENMASTER
The First Behind-the-Scenes Account of Life With the Ravens at Britain’s Most Famous National Monument
For centuries, the Tower of London has been home to a group of famous avian residents: the ravens. Each year they are seen by millions of visitors, and they have become as integral a part of the Tower as its ancient stones themselves. But their role is even more important than that – legend has it that if the ravens should ever leave, the Tower will crumble into dust, and great harm will befall the kingdom.
One man is personally responsible for ensuring that such a disaster never comes to pass – the Ravenmaster. The current holder of the position is Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife, and in this fascinating, entertaining and touching book he memorably describes the ravens’ formidable intelligence, their idiosyncrasies and their occasionally wicked sense of humour.
Over the years in which he has cared for the physical and mental well-being of these remarkable birds, Christopher Skaife has come to know them like no one else. They are not the easiest of charges – as he reveals, they are much given to mischief, and their escapades have often led him into unlikely, and sometimes even undignified, situations.
Now, in the first intimate behind-the-scenes account of life with the ravens of the Tower, the Ravenmaster himself shares the folklore, history and superstitions surrounding both the birds and their home. The result is a compelling, inspiring and irreverent story that will delight and surprise anyone with an interest in British history or animal behaviour.
THE RAVENMASTER
Signed Copies of The Ravenmaster Available to Buy Now.
I have what is often described as the oddest job in Britain.
Odd? Maybe.
The best? Definitely.
My name is Chris Skaife and I am the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London.
This book is my attempt to answer some of the most common questions I get asked about the ravens on a daily basis by our visitors and those folk that follow my social media pages and dispel some of the more fanciful myths.
What this book is not—is a scientific study about birds… I am not a scientist…though over the years I’ve been lucky enough to meet with many fascinating and leading scientists in the study of avian intelligence… Despite my years of caring for the ravens, there is no actual qualification to be the Ravenmaster… I’m just an average guy with a greater- than- average amount of luck… who has been fortunate enough to have spent a good part of my life at the Tower observing some of the most… beautiful and intelligent birds in the world.
I’m also very lucky to have had two careers… as an infantry soldier serving for 24 years in the military … and now as the Ravenmaster…
As a soldier I have seen the best and worst of what humans are capable of…
As the Ravenmaster, learning about the ravens, I have discovered a lot about what it actually means to be a human… I’ve learned to listen… to observe…and to be still… (although my wife Jasmin would be inclined to disagree on that)!
The ravens have been my teachers… and I have been their pupil.
Bestseller
An Amazon Book of the Month
‘Packed with insight and anecdote, his story brings the Tower ravens to vivid life, each bird with a personality of its own. I’ve been fortunate enough to tour the Tower and meet the ravens a few times in years past; after reading this book, I cannot wait to go back’ George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones
‘This is a charmer! Life with the legendary ravens at the Tower of London! Chock full of wild things you didn’t know.’ Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale
‘A born storyteller with a gift for banter honed by years in the British army, Skaife has written a book that is far from a dry monograph about the species … [it is] a beguiling, fascinating, and highly amusing account of the strangely magical birds. He is making us love them in a way that makes them more than mere symbols’ Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk, Atlantic
“What a terrific book. . . I learned so much about ravens, and even things I didn’t know about the Tower. It’s like spending a long evening with a bottle of whisky as a wise Ravenmaster tells you everything you need to know.” Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods
‘A strange, wise and fascinating book that takes you deep into the interwoven myth and history of the raven. At a time when we’re thinking more than ever about tradition and identity, this is a book that feels both urgent and timeless, with the Ravenmaster himself an eccentric, genial and quintessentially British narrator’ Alex Preston, author of When Kingfishers Catch Fire
‘Balancing fascinating tidbits (a raven’s need for order and routine) with macabre details (blood-soaked dog biscuits and ghostly sightings), [Skaife] titillates as he educates, rehabilitating the gloomy reputation of the raven. Skaife’s conversational style and disarming candor make this a rollicking tale fit for nearly any armchair adventurer’ Publisher’s Weekly
‘This is an utterly fascinating book about one of those subjects you never thought you’d be interested in until, well, you were . . . Skaife is a very good storyteller . . . A splendid and constantly surprising book’ Booklist
‘For those seeking the secrets of the Tower of London without actually being imprisoned there, this is just the thing’ Kirkus
‘A delightful read from a masterful―and very funny―storyteller’ Jennifer Ackerman, author of the New York Times bestselling The Genius of Birds
‘Skaife is both a raven master and a master storyteller. Compulsively readable―I devoured the book in a single sitting!’ Lindsey Fitzharris, author of The Butchering Art
Bestseller
An Amazon Book of the Month
‘Packed with insight and anecdote, his story brings the Tower ravens to vivid life, each bird with a personality of its own. I’ve been fortunate enough to tour the Tower and meet the ravens a few times in years past; after reading this book, I cannot wait to go back’ George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones
‘This is a charmer! Life with the legendary ravens at the Tower of London! Chock full of wild things you didn’t know.’ Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale
‘A born storyteller with a gift for banter honed by years in the British army, Skaife has written a book that is far from a dry monograph about the species … [it is] a beguiling, fascinating, and highly amusing account of the strangely magical birds. He is making us love them in a way that makes them more than mere symbols’ Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk, Atlantic
“What a terrific book. . . I learned so much about ravens, and even things I didn’t know about the Tower. It’s like spending a long evening with a bottle of whisky as a wise Ravenmaster tells you everything you need to know.” Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods
‘A strange, wise and fascinating book that takes you deep into the interwoven myth and history of the raven. At a time when we’re thinking more than ever about tradition and identity, this is a book that feels both urgent and timeless, with the Ravenmaster himself an eccentric, genial and quintessentially British narrator’ Alex Preston, author of When Kingfishers Catch Fire
‘Balancing fascinating tidbits (a raven’s need for order and routine) with macabre details (blood-soaked dog biscuits and ghostly sightings), [Skaife] titillates as he educates, rehabilitating the gloomy reputation of the raven. Skaife’s conversational style and disarming candor make this a rollicking tale fit for nearly any armchair adventurer’ Publisher’s Weekly
‘This is an utterly fascinating book about one of those subjects you never thought you’d be interested in until, well, you were . . . Skaife is a very good storyteller . . . A splendid and constantly surprising book’ Booklist
‘For those seeking the secrets of the Tower of London without actually being imprisoned there, this is just the thing’ Kirkus
‘A delightful read from a masterful―and very funny―storyteller’ Jennifer Ackerman, author of the New York Times bestselling The Genius of Birds
‘Skaife is both a raven master and a master storyteller. Compulsively readable―I devoured the book in a single sitting!’ Lindsey Fitzharris, author of The Butchering Art
Before becoming Yeoman Warder and Ravenmaster at the Tower of London, Christopher Skaife served in the British Army for twenty-four years, during which time he became a Drum Major as part of a specialist machine gun platoon. He has been featured on the BBC, the History Channel, PBS, Buzzfeed, Slate and more. He lives at the Tower with his wife, his daughter and, of course, the ravens.
Before becoming Yeoman Warder and Ravenmaster at the Tower of London, Christopher Skaife served in the British Army for twenty-four years, during which time he became a Drum Major as part of a specialist machine gun platoon. He has been featured on the BBC, the History Channel, PBS, Buzzfeed, Slate and more. He lives at the Tower with his wife, his daughter and, of course, the ravens.