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A review by cwalsh
The Ravenmaster: My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London by Christopher Skaife
5.0
I cannot BEGIN to tell you how much I ADORED this book!
First of all, Skaife is an incredible storyteller and if I ever get to the Tower of London, I'll wait as long as I have to for him to be my guide. I was completely taken by his wit, humor, and charm; so much so that when I finished the book, I wished I had not. Second, I had no idea that the title "Ravenmaster" even existed. That being said, I am completely ready to quit my job to be an apprentice... holla @ me, bro.
As the legend goes,"if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it". It is therefore the responsibility of the Ravenmaster (and in this case Yeomen Warder, Christopher Skaife) and his team to ensure this never happens. Skaife describes his daily routines with the ravens, from the very specific way he has to release the ravens in the morning to their rather grotesque feeding time, where readers learn about the... interesting... eating habits of these omnivorous birds. In addition to his own personal experiences with the ravens, he touches upon their behavior (he claims he is no ornithologist, but his firsthand accounts are definitely something to take into consideration), and offers further information on the Tower of London's history, the fascination with ravens in literature, and more.
If you're looking for a delightful book with a whole lot of charm and quirkiness, look no further, the Ravenmaster has got you covered!
First of all, Skaife is an incredible storyteller and if I ever get to the Tower of London, I'll wait as long as I have to for him to be my guide. I was completely taken by his wit, humor, and charm; so much so that when I finished the book, I wished I had not. Second, I had no idea that the title "Ravenmaster" even existed. That being said, I am completely ready to quit my job to be an apprentice... holla @ me, bro.
As the legend goes,"if the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it". It is therefore the responsibility of the Ravenmaster (and in this case Yeomen Warder, Christopher Skaife) and his team to ensure this never happens. Skaife describes his daily routines with the ravens, from the very specific way he has to release the ravens in the morning to their rather grotesque feeding time, where readers learn about the... interesting... eating habits of these omnivorous birds. In addition to his own personal experiences with the ravens, he touches upon their behavior (he claims he is no ornithologist, but his firsthand accounts are definitely something to take into consideration), and offers further information on the Tower of London's history, the fascination with ravens in literature, and more.
If you're looking for a delightful book with a whole lot of charm and quirkiness, look no further, the Ravenmaster has got you covered!