Tuesday, May 28, 2019

The Ravenmaster- My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London

Book:  The Ravenmaster- My Life with the Ravens at the Tower of London
Basic Information : Synopsis : Characters : Expectations : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : New Words : Book References : Good Quotes : Table of Contents : References

Basic Information:
Author: Christopher Skaife
Edition: epub on Overdrive from the San Francisco Public Library
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 1443455938 (ISBN13: 9781443455930)
Start Date: May 25, 2019
Read Date: May 28, 2019
256 pages
Genre: Biography
Language Warning: None
Rated Overall: 3½ out of 5

History:3 out of 5


Synopsis (Caution: Spoiler Alert-Jump to Thoughts):
Christopher Skaife is the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London. He talks about what does this mean-he and his team takes care of seven ravens, which depending on which tradition you go by starts in the mid 1800’s or the 1400’s. Either way, the legend has it that if the ravens , and there must be at least six of them, leave the Tower of London, the kingdom will collapse.

Skaife talks about his background and why he joined the army. He walks through the discipline he learned and then the requirements to be part of the Guard at the Tower of London.

He then talks about the ravens. First there is the individual ravens and their characteristics. But also ravens in general, as well as his philosophy of care. Of course there are numerous stories of the ravens and their escapades.


Cast of Characters:
  • Christopher Skaife-author, former army Drum Major, Yeoman Warder, Ravenmaster
  • Ravens:
    • Munin-female. Started in May 1995 Oldest raven in the tower. Named after Odin’s ravens in Norse mythology
    • Merlina-female. Started May 2007. Originally thought she was a male (Merlin).
    • Erin-female. Started in 2006. Not named after Ireland
    • Rocky-male. Started in July 2011. Named after a former Ravenmaster.
    • Jubilee II-male. Started in May 2013. Named because of the Queen’s Jubilee.
    • Gripp II-male. Started in May 2013.
    • Harris-male. Started May 2016
There was once a Tower raven named Ronald Raven.


Expectations:
Recommendation: OSHER Book Group
When: May 2019
Date Became Aware of Book: May 2019
How come do I want to read this book: Part of the OSHER Book Group Fall 2019 reading list
What do I think I will get out of it? Unknown


Thoughts:
Silhouette
Ravenmaster
Skaife points out that it is common to say that every man’s home is his castle. In his case, it really is a castle.

He then goes on and talks about the history of the Tower of London. From its inception as a statement of power and conquest to being a palace and a prison.

Skaife feels privileged that he has been in close contact with the ravens. In learning about the ravens, I’ve learned to listen, to observe, and to be still. The ravens have been my teachers and I have been their pupil.

Skaife’s goal for the book is that in reading this book you too will become fascinated [with birds].

The rules
  • DO NOT hurry the ravens
  • DO NOT attempt to change the pecking order
  • DO NOT try to cut corners
  • DO remain calm at all times
  • DO allow the ravens to follow the same routine every day
  • DO prepare for chaos if you break any of the above rules.

Roll call
Bird life
Tower Green
He has a ten point check off list for caring for the ravens. Nothing exotic, really pretty mundane. But he describes even just filling the water bowls as part of his quiet time. It allows him to think about his day. This is a good example. There is nothing to mundane in our lives which cannot be filled with thoughts of God.

He thinks that the Tower of London is not only a set of buildings, but a storehouse of people's imagination. The ravens are the guardians. It also is the place people live- there are births and burials, weddings and executions.

On his keychain is a skull a cross bones-a reminder of death

Biscuits and blood
in the military you learn the wisdom of routine. Also of doing things right. (As a note: read Endurance by Scott Kelly right after this. This is close to what Kelly figured out when he joined the military.)

The raven team keeps a calendar which has the dates of important tasks and events. But they also keep a logbook. It allows the whole team to keep abreast of what is happening. Sort of like in our fire lookouts. Or what we did at work in Operations.

What medical or musical purposes do raven feathers have?

Yeoman warders are also called Beef Eaters. but prefer the term yeoman warder.

The Menagerie
ravenmaster-zookeeper of only single-species open-air zoo.

The Blackbirds
Sometimes the only way to learn the character of a person is to be thrown into a challenge.


The raven spreads his wings
Skaire knows the patterns of his bird's f)light. he says they all look the same until you slow down their flight on your minds eye.

Sounds like the challenge with ravens is similar to the challenge of child-rearing. How to allow the maximum amount of freedom without total escape. That sort of says you are in control. At least in child-raising that is illusional. With ravens, he tries to do a minimal wing clipping.

Traditions are to be kept, but in keeping with current standards and needs.


Citizens of the world
You can find ravens almost anyplace in place in the world. During the 1800's there was an effort to exterminate them from England

The story
There is a standard story told by the guides. They must have it memorized and it is about an hour long. But once down, they can add parts and pieces to it to make it more interesting. He comments that there must be a satisfying shape to the story when told. Interesting term. Must remember that in my talks.

Application
He comments that a lot of ex-military cannot live with life outside of the military. To him, being with the ravens was his salvation.

Ravens are creatures of habit. Any disturbance causes stress.

Speaking in Ravenish
orvus corax-from greek:korax, meaning croaker

The Miwok Indians took the raven as a symbol of the trickster

Ravens communicate by their voice, tones and inflections, as well as body language. Pointing the beak is one thing. They can also mimic other noises.

Always remember: ravens are watching you.

Skaire feels that it is taking away from the ravens teaching them tricks, such learning how to talk. Animals are not toys.

Bird brains
Ravens are smart enough to operate in military fashion. They will lure a pigeon into a trap.


Ravenology
He has acquired a whole collection of raven books, articles, stories and artifacts. Skaife considers himself an amateur. They are paradoxical. Ravens can be evil as well as good. An animal waited on by humans.

The legend of the ravens at the Tower
The legend has it that the ravens were in the tower starting in the 1400's and that without them the kingdom would fail. no proof of the start of this legend.

It is possible that the observatory at Greenwich was established to escape the ravens.


Blood swept lands and seas of red
The basic disciplines teach you the art of being intensely observant. He shows how everything being perfect for inspections caused you to recognize when things were out of place. This transferred to the importance of cleaning cages. He makes sure the cages are clean, fit and ready to be used


My mistress' eyes are raven black
One of the ravens fell in love with a metal monkey. She would go and talk with it each day, giving it food. one day she gave up. His comment is there is a mystery of love and loss.

Death and the raven
Ravens seem to always be around death. Several battlefields are called "ravenstone." Ravens have been known to devour anything from worms to whales.

Lesson: Think before you act.

And so to bed
Anthropomorphizing will get you into trouble. Animals may mimic human characteristics, but they are not human.

Great traditions
Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you do in life, you have to learn to adapt.

Sentinels of the White Tor
Ravenmasters in the past would try to keep their trade a secret. Skaife feels that he needs to have people understand what the ravens are all about. I suppose, hence this book.

His philosophy: animals are individuals just like us and they deserve to be treated with respect.


Evaluation:
 Lets approach this review with what the book does not claim to be: a scientific study of ravens, nor a history ravens, nor a cultural rendering of the importance of ravens. Even though the book does touch on all of those things.

It is an autobiography of a man who seemed destined to drift through life, but grew up through his time in the military to become a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London and to be the chief carer of its ravens. The RavenMaster. A dream job if there ever was one. But there is more here than just an autobiography.

Sure, Skaife goes through his life story and talks about what being in the military meant for him. How even the mundane tasks were there for the purpose of shaping a person. If you were
Inclined to this regime, you could become an outstanding person.

As the Ravenmaster, he has taken the skills of observation he learned in the military to learn from the ravens. He goes through their schedules, their mannerisms, and their needs. He makes it so that you want to visit the Tower if for no other reason than to see the ravens for yourself.

Skaife’s writing is told in interesting, but common speech manner. You can quickly read and enjoy the story. But this is not one of those books where you enjoy the words, but the images.

The ravens are still at the Tower of London. So the Kingdom has not fallen, even with Brexit, and will not fall as long as their are ravens in the Tower.

 
Notes from my book group:
OSHER Book Club: December 2019
Skaife gives us rules for caring for ravens in chapter 3. How does he illustrate what happens if the rules are not followed? Are there similar rules for being in relationship with people? Or are our rules similar to ravens?


Many of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.
  • Why the Ravenmaster is appropriate title for the book?
  • Does this story work as an autobiography?
  • Did the ending seem fitting? Satisfying? Predictable?
  • Every story has a world view. Were you able to identify this story’s world view? What was it? How did it affect the story?
  • In what context was religion talked about in this book?
  • Why do you think the author wrote this book? (reading this book you too will become fascinated [with birds].) Do you think he accomplished his goal with you?
  • What would you ask the author if you had a chance?
  • What “take aways” did you have from this book?
  • What central ideas does the author present?
  • Describe the culture talked about in the book.
    • How is the culture described in this book different than where we live?
    • What economic or political situations are described?
    • Does the author examine economics and politics, family traditions, the arts, religious beliefs, language or food?
  • How did this book affect your view of the world?
    • What questions did you ask yourself after reading this book?
  • Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?
    • What was memorable?

New Words:
  • memento mori: a Latin phrase meaning 'remember you must die'.
  • passerine (used with birds): relating to or denoting birds of a large order distinguished by feet that are adapted for perching, including all songbirds
  • neophobic-needing ritual, having an extreme or irrational dislike of anything new or unfamiliar.
  • tabard: a sleeveless jerkin consisting only of front and back pieces with a hole for the head.
  • Syrinx: the lower larynx or voice organ in birds, situated at or near the junction of the trachea and bronchi and well developed in songbirds.
Book References:
  • Survey of London by John Stow
  • A Song of Fire and Ice by George R. R. Martin-references the name Bran which means raven
  • History of England bt Thomas Macauley
  • daphne du maurier which the movie The Birds was based upon
  • Birds of the Western Paleartic
  • Birds of the British Isles by Bannerman
  • The Raven: A Natural history in Britain and Itreland by Derek Rickman
  • The Raven's Nest by John Clare
  • desert Notes: Reflections in the Eye of a Raven by Barry Lopez
  • Barnaby Ridge by Charles Dickens
  • The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
  • Bird Brain by Nathan J Emery
  • Naturalis Historia (Of Natural History) by Pliny rhe Elder
  • Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich
  • Authorized Guide to the Tower of London by W.J. Loftie
  • The Tower of London byWilliam Benham
  • Her Majesty's Tower of London by Colonel E.H.Carkeet-James
  • London Town by Felix Leigh
  • Birds in London by W.H. Hudson
  • The Tower from Within by Major-general Sir George Younghusband
  • A Short History of the Tower of London by Major-general Sir George Younghusband
  • Ravens in Winter by Bernd Heinrich
  • The Faerie Queen by Edmund Spencer
  • Macbeth by William Shakespeare
  • Julius Casear by William Shakespeare
  • The Green Crow by Sean O'Casey
  • Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
  • The Complete Jane Austen
  • Truman Capote
  • The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
  • David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
  • Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
  • Bird Life and Bird Lore by Reginald Bosworth Smith
  • Ghosts of the Tower of London by Geoffrey "Bud" Abbott

Good Quotes:
    • First Line: It’s 0530.
    • Last Line: They rise above it still.
    • Lesson: Think before you act. chp 24-Death and the Ravens
      Table of Contents:

      • Silhouette
      • Ravenmaster
      • The rules
      • Roll call
      • Bird life
      • Tower Green
      • Biscuits and blood
      • The menagerie
      • Black birds
      • The raven spreads his wings
      • The great escape
      • Resistance to interrogation
      • Citizens of the world
      • Double hatting
      • The story
      • Application
      • Speaking in Ravenish
      • Bird brains
      • Ravenology
      • The legend of the ravens at the Tower
      • Blood swept lands and seas of red
      • My mistress' eyes are raven black
      • Birds and books
      • Death and the raven
      • The ghosts of my life
      • And so to bed
      • Great traditions
      • Sentinels of the White Tor
      • Rising above.

      References:
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