The Ravenmaster

July 16, 2018
In this lively and often cheeky narrative, first-time author Skaife puts a human face on the Beefeaters (aka Yeoman Warders)—the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London—and the distinctive ravens under their care. According to legend, these birds merit special concern because if they depart, “the Tower itself will crumble into dust and great harm will befall the kingdom,” writes Skaife. Short, entertaining chapters juxtapose history and myth with ornithological facts and an inside look at one of London’s most popular attractions. Skaife introduces readers to the Tower’s seven ravens and shares stories illustrating their quirky personalities (Merlina, for example, has a keen eye for Pringle’s potato chips, which she spots and steals from pedestrians), and chronicles his childhood, military career, and rise to ravenmaster, “the oddest job in Britain.” Balancing fascinating tidbits (a raven’s need for order and routine) with macabre details (blood-soaked dog biscuits and ghostly sightings), he 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. Agent: Anna Sproul-Latimer, Ross Yoon Agency

September 1, 2018
When the ravens disappear from the Tower of London, the tale goes, then England will fall--good reason to keep someone on staff to keep the birds happy.What's the difference between a raven and a crow? No, it's not that one's for the crockpot and one for the oven. There's much more to it than that, and one of the best people to tell you about the matter is "Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife, of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and member of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary," as the author identifies himself. Rather more informally, he's the Ravenmaster, the fellow who looks after the resident raven population at the famed Tower of London. This is no easy job; Skaife writes with rueful authority of having to overcome his understandable fears of being put in a cage to study, up close, a bird that for all purposes might as well have been a condor at first glance. His affection for the birds has evolved, though, and he writes movingly of the many ways in which harm can come to them--including, strangely enough, being hurt in a fall. "These days," he writes, "if a raven dies unexpectedly at the Tower and I'm not sure of the cause of death, I take it to the vets at the London Zoo for a post-mortem." As for the legend, supposedly dating to the time of Charles II, that the health of the birds is correlated to the health of the Crown, Skaife does a nice bit of historical archaeology to dig up evidence for the legend, which turns out to be more modern than advertised. It's no H Is for Hawk as a literary achievement, but Skaife's account delivers a pleasing set of anecdotes that will appeal to the Atlas Obscura-reading crowd, to say nothing of corvid fans.For those seeking the secrets of the Tower of London without actually being imprisoned there, this is just the thing.

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October 1, 2018

Debut author Skaife provides insight into his job as a caregiver for ravens in the Tower of London. Living a pampered existence and viewed with intense public interest and affection, these birds are "royals," albeit of the feathered kind. Disavowing any claim to scientific rigor, Skaife is yet a keen student of all things raven, noting authorities in historical and ornithological fields and adding his own sharp observations of his charges' routines and behaviors. The author critically considers the lore associated with the birds, the most famous and cherished being that if the ravens leave the Tower, the monarchy will fall. The human element also figures in--how Skaife, a wayward lad, finds his path through military service, going on to serve both Queen and corvids with honor. Although some readers may chafe at the ravens' wings being clipped to keep them close, Skaife maintains that this is a balanced approach to maintaining tradition while allowing the birds to be "as free and as wild as possible." VERDICT The qualities that make Skaife a popular tour guide, such as his gentle humor and ability to break down rich history into entertaining and digestible bits, carry over nicely in this memoir.--Robert Eagan, Windsor P.L., Ont.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2018

Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress, the Tower of London, Skaife has one cool job: he tends to the tower's ravens. It's important work, even as he buys them raw meat and soaks their biscuits in blood: legend has it that if a raven escapes the tower, the city will fall.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.