The Ravenmaster Audiobook By Christopher Skaife cover art

The Ravenmaster

My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London

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The Ravenmaster

By: Christopher Skaife
Narrated by: Christopher Skaife
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"[Christopher Skaife's] natural storyteller's charm results in a performance that is conversational, funny, and self-deprecating...Ravenmaster is a joyful listening experience." — AudioFile Magazine

This program is read by the author.

The first behind-the-scenes account of life with the legendary ravens at the world’s eeriest monument.


The ravens at the Tower of London are of mighty importance: rumor has it that if a raven from the Tower should ever leave, the city will fall.

The title of Ravenmaster, therefore, is a serious title indeed, and after decades of serving the Queen, Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife took on the added responsibility of caring for the infamous ravens. In The Ravenmaster, he lets listeners in on his life as he feeds his birds raw meat and biscuits soaked in blood, buys their food at Smithfield Market, and ensures that these unusual, misunderstood, and utterly brilliant corvids are healthy, happy, and ready to captivate the four million tourists who flock to the Tower every year.

A rewarding, intimate, and inspiring partnership has developed between the ravens and their charismatic and charming human, the Ravenmaster, who shares the folklore, history, and superstitions surrounding the ravens and the Tower. Shining a light on the behavior of the birds, their pecking order and social structure, and the tricks they play on us, Skaife shows who the Tower’s true guardians really are—and the result is a compelling and irreverent audiobook that will surprise and enchant.

Great Britain Animals Europe England Witty Biographies & Memoirs Thought-Provoking Biological Sciences Outdoors & Nature Science

Critic reviews

Author and narrator Christopher Skaife['s]...natural storyteller's charm results in a performance that is conversational, funny, and self-deprecating. ...RAVENMASTER is a joyful listening experience." -<i>AudioFile</i>

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Fascinating History • Captivating Stories • Passionate Narration • Informative Content • Unique Subject Matter

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A great listen!!! Highly recommended!! Engaging non-fiction look at the ravens of the Tower. Brilliant!

Very Enjoyable

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Great story by a great storyteller. Listened to the book straight through once I started.

Fast listen

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What wonderful stories that you would never hear elsewhere. And the author as the narrator is always the best. You get a real feel for who he is and the stories beyond the words.

For Raven lovers, a delight!

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I am just cuckoo for birds. This is a lovely book about a man who has dedicated his life to caring for a London treasure, the ravens of the Tower. I enjoyed every minute of it. This is a book totally in the black. #unique #FeelGood #Birdalicious #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Birds and more birds

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I bought this book for research about ravens, and not only did I find it to be wonderfully detailed, but the author lent the subject a great deal of charm by sharing the details of his fascinating life with these clever beings. A great listen!

Educational and Fun

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