The Ravenmaster

"Skaife is a jaunty, top-shelf storyteller. Not only has he got a flair for the basic tower story, and the history and mystery of the ravens, but he can swing off piste, like a jazz improvisation, to fill in the story with scads of local color."—Peter Lewis, The Boston Globe

"A beguiling, fascinating, and highly amusing account of the strangely magical birds . . . There's joy in The Ravenmaster, as well as tragedy, obsession, and a rare tenderness toward Skaife’s avian charges . . . Skaife is doing us, I think, a small political service by introducing us to the quirks and histories of every bird in his care; he is letting us love them in a way that makes them more than mere symbols . . . Marvelous."—Helen MacDonald, The Atlantic

"Skaife . . . is an unending fount of raven lore—not just myths and stories, but habits, personalities and discoveries he's made over his years on the job."—Petra Mayer, NPR

"A wonderfully personal account of life with the ravens . . . A natural storyteller, Skaife writes with affection and insight about these powerful, unpredictable and highly intelligent birds."—PD Smith, The Guardian

"Packed with insight and anecdote, [The Ravenmaster] 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

"A delightful read from a masterful—and very funny—storyteller. Skaife the Ravenmaster knows birds in a way that humans rarely do. He gives us an intimate insider’s view of the seven big, powerful, boisterous ravens who rule his life, who tease him mercilessly and teach him well, who play KerPlunk, who plan and execute elaborate ploys for stealing sandwiches, who guard the Tower of London and its visitors (and only occasionally terrorize them), who are—as he says with characteristic insight—much like us, brave, silly, ruthless, charming, unpredictable, brilliant, lovable, and complex."—Jennifer Ackerman, author of the New York Times bestselling The Genius of Birds.

"The Ravenmaster will enable the public see ravens not simply as a memorial to days of yore, but every bit as much a part of history as monarchs and politicians. Christopher Skaife's tales contain not only comedy but also tragedy, frustration, love, hubris, fear, foolishness, compassion and uncertainty. Keeping the ravens requires constant negotiation with them, in which, as Skaife repeatedly observes, we learn not only about corvids but also our own role as human beings."—Boria Sax, author of The City of Ravens

"For those seeking the secrets of the Tower of London without actually being imprisoned there, this is just the thing."—Kirkus Reviews

“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.”—David Pitt, Booklist (starred review)

"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."—Publishers Weekly