The Ravenmaster

‘He is a born storyteller’ Evening Standard

‘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

‘A natural story teller, Skaife writes with affection and insight about these powerful, unpredictable and highly intelligent birds … a wonderfully personal account’ Guardian

‘The best Christmas presents are often a little unexpected and this lovely memoir of Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife’s experience of looking after the Tower of London ravens fits the bill. A beguiling mixture of personal experience, folklore and humour, The Ravenmaster is a charming delight’ iNews

‘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

‘The London book of the year this year has to be The Ravenmaster, a funny and informative account of life with the royal ravens’ Evening Standard

‘Balancing fascinating tidbits 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

Christopher Skaife is Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) and Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He has served in the British Army for twenty-four years, during which time he became a machine-gun specialist as well as an expert in survival and interrogation resistance. He has been featured on the History Channel, PBS, the BBC, Buzzfeed, and Slate. He lives at the Tower with his wife and, of course, the ravens.