“The author delves into the true history and cultural importance of these massive corvids. “Boria Sax traces the history of the ravens in the Tower of London with accurate scholarship and engaging stories.” -John Marzluff, co-author of In the Company of Crows and Ravens “A wonderful contribution to the modern history and mythology of one of the world’s greatest cities.” -Ronald Hutton, Commissioner of English Heritage with unexpected and fascinating conclusions.” -Esther Woolfson, author of Corvus “Both a delight and a profound illumination of the subject . . . This informing and reflective volume addresses the need to connect with animals and the natural world and shows us the human need for wonder at nature.

But Sax shows us how the ravens have come to represent Britain’s natural heritage, without which any nation would be impoverished. For over a century, the ravens have been symbols of cruelty, avatars of fate-and cuddly national pets. Its heroes are the raven couple Grip and Mable, who eloped from the Tower together after World War II, leaving it empty and prompting fears that the British Empire would end Jackie, who kept watch at a brewery McDonald, who was murdered and Thor, who could not accept his loss of flight. The legend itself originated from the summer of 1944, when ravens in London were used as unofficial spotters for enemy bombs and planes.īoria Sax gives us the first book to tell the true story of the ravens, which has far more high drama than any of the tales the tourists get to hear. But the truth is that the ravens only arrived at the Tower in 1883, when they were brought in as props in tales of Gothic horror that were told to tourists.

Tales tell of how Charles II, fearful of ancient legends that Britain will fall if the ravens at the Tower of London ever leave their abode, ordered that the wings of the six ravens be clipped.

A “quirky and absorbing” exploration of the history and mythology surrounding the ravens at the Tower of London ( Publishers Weekly).

Crow by Boria Sax