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A Shadow Above: The Fall and Rise of the Raven
For centuries, the raven Corvus Corax has stalked us in life and in death. Excavations of Bronze Age settlements in Britain have revealed raven bones mingled with human remains. The Viking and Norman warriors that stormed these shores did so sporting ravens on their shields and banners. By the 15th century the service the birds provided scavenging and picking clean bodies on the streets of British cities led to their protection, under the first-ever piece of nature conservation legislation.
Yet by the 1700s this relationship between humans and the raven had soured. The birds came to be regarded as vermin--representative of something deeper and more visceral--and were driven out of towns and cities with a hatred that moved into savagery. By the close of the 19th century, ravens clung on only in the furthest outposts of the United Kingdom--the southwest, west Wales, and the Scottish uplands--and this remained the case throughout most of the last century, but the past decade has witnessed a remarkable comeback. Raven numbers have increased by 134 percent since the turn of the millennium and there are now well over 12,000 breeding pairs across the country, with these moving ever closer to human settlements.
The history of this bird embodies our best and worst impulses, and symbolizes our deepest fears. Ravens became ingrained in our culture as omens of death, and we projected our own deepest fears on to them.
Joe Shute's book chronicles the return of the raven, and the people who have made that comeback possible. In it, he travels to every corner of the UK, meeting those who have spent the past ten years recording every sound and sighting, and showing why these birds reflect and provoke our innermost feelings.
His interviews will range from the descendants of the Vikings on Orkney to those who monitor the White Cliffs of Dover, where ravens have started breeding for the first time since the Victorian era, to the burgeoning raven roosts of Anglesey. Joe meets biologists studying the vast intellect of the birds which have proved how they mimic human speech--and interactions--and the city dwellers who never imagined the sight of ravens in residential streets could ever be possible in their lifetimes. He also spends time with upland sheep farmers still struggling to come to terms with this uneasy relationship, and asks why we drove this bird to near extinction in the first place.
Yet by the 1700s this relationship between humans and the raven had soured. The birds came to be regarded as vermin--representative of something deeper and more visceral--and were driven out of towns and cities with a hatred that moved into savagery. By the close of the 19th century, ravens clung on only in the furthest outposts of the United Kingdom--the southwest, west Wales, and the Scottish uplands--and this remained the case throughout most of the last century, but the past decade has witnessed a remarkable comeback. Raven numbers have increased by 134 percent since the turn of the millennium and there are now well over 12,000 breeding pairs across the country, with these moving ever closer to human settlements.
The history of this bird embodies our best and worst impulses, and symbolizes our deepest fears. Ravens became ingrained in our culture as omens of death, and we projected our own deepest fears on to them.
Joe Shute's book chronicles the return of the raven, and the people who have made that comeback possible. In it, he travels to every corner of the UK, meeting those who have spent the past ten years recording every sound and sighting, and showing why these birds reflect and provoke our innermost feelings.
His interviews will range from the descendants of the Vikings on Orkney to those who monitor the White Cliffs of Dover, where ravens have started breeding for the first time since the Victorian era, to the burgeoning raven roosts of Anglesey. Joe meets biologists studying the vast intellect of the birds which have proved how they mimic human speech--and interactions--and the city dwellers who never imagined the sight of ravens in residential streets could ever be possible in their lifetimes. He also spends time with upland sheep farmers still struggling to come to terms with this uneasy relationship, and asks why we drove this bird to near extinction in the first place.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2018
7 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 5, 2021
Ravens are freighted with such symbolism that people attribute special significance to their presence or absence. In parts of Britain, they were persecuted to the point of extirpation, but in recent years they have been finding new strongholds everywhere from sea cliffs and abandoned quarries to the New Forest and city centres. Travelling around the country, Shute learns how mythology reflects humans’ historical relationships with the birds and meets with those who hate and shoot ravens (farmers whose lambs and piglets they gang up to kill) as well as those who rehabilitate them or live with them as companions. It’s a very balanced and well informed book, if a little by-the-numbers in its approach.
A terrific final paragraph: “Watching the birds dive under the fizzing pylon wires, I also realise just how much we need them close by. To provide us with a glimpse of wildness in a world hell-bent on civilising its furthest reaches, while at the same time inching closer towards the abyss. The raven will always continue to represent our own projections. This modern omen remains as yet ill-defined; our shared futures unresolved.”
A terrific final paragraph: “Watching the birds dive under the fizzing pylon wires, I also realise just how much we need them close by. To provide us with a glimpse of wildness in a world hell-bent on civilising its furthest reaches, while at the same time inching closer towards the abyss. The raven will always continue to represent our own projections. This modern omen remains as yet ill-defined; our shared futures unresolved.”
February 28, 2020
Jo Shute loves ravens. I loved this book. Part natural history, part history, part an exploration of the many legends that this bird has fostered, part investigative journalism, part personal history, this is an engaging, immersive read that goes a long way towards explaining why ravens have a special place in our history, and that of many other nations - even giving many locations their place name. it's beautifully, often poetically written (though it could have had a better proof-reader) as well as being informative. I finished this book with an increased respect for an intelligent, fascinating bird, besides understanding why it inspires fear and loathing in almost equal measure.
September 8, 2018
An absolutely fantastic read. I have a soft spot for corvids and love reading about them, and this book was just a joy to read (although I might have winced a few times!) and I think is probably my favourite nature book of the year so far.
January 6, 2022
A fascinating book all about ravens! Before reading this all I could have told you about ravens was that they are sort of like a large crow. Now, however, I realise there is far far more to these extremely intelligent birds. From playing important roles in myths and legends, to having incredible facial recognition skills to even learning how to play kerplunk this book is filled with a variety of information. Beautifully written I really felt this book was over far too soon!
November 15, 2022
I was enjoying this until the middle section where Shute goes to Scotland and interviews Scottish farmers, then no. Utter cruelty, trapping ravens in cages and shooting them at close range because the farmers think that ravens are "evil" by preying on their lambs/piglets etc! Wtf?!! No, just no. Scottish farmers are twats!
November 9, 2020
Melodiously written with wonderful anecdotes, Shute examines ravens in British history around the isles and mainland. He meets historians, naturalists, enthusiasts and farmers in order to present a complete picture of the raven and its place with us and the land. His research uncovers neolithic forts, medieval beliefs and the decline at the hands of the shooting and farming industries. Never does the prose falter, nor his enthusiasm which is infectious. If you love Corvus Corax, British and natural history, this will not disappoint.
March 7, 2020
Shute is incredibly passionate about ravens - this book is as much journal as natural history of the birds in Britain, trending towards his personal story and experiences.
Shute has a nice style, but I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider at times, given that I’m just not as familiar with the scenes and places he describes in such detail. I think this book would resonate more with someone with better knowledge of the country.
Shute has a nice style, but I couldn’t help but feel like an outsider at times, given that I’m just not as familiar with the scenes and places he describes in such detail. I think this book would resonate more with someone with better knowledge of the country.
July 10, 2021
Ravens fascinate me and this was an interesting delve into the world of corvids and bird watching. Lots of eye-opening anecdotes ... some of which are not for the faint of heart. While I enjoyed the book, it took a long time to get through it ... it reads very much like a lifestyle/naturalist magazine article which is no surprise given that Shute is a journalist. I enjoyed the details of UK geography and bits of UK history woven throughout.
September 25, 2018
This was a really good read! Some readers may find it too personal and not scientific enough, but the case Shute is making is that humans have had a very personal and nuanced relationship with ravens and why that is.
June 1, 2019
Excellent book by someone who is not a wildlife expert as such and undertook the project as investigative jounalism. Fascinating syudy of a creature that may be the closest to us in temperament and intelligence.
September 22, 2019
Very interesting and thought provoking study of ravens, exploring the historical and mythological links between man and these magnificent birds which are making a comeback after much persecution, a comeback welcomed by naturalists, but not necessarily by farmers.
August 27, 2018
Interesting and disturbing.
April 10, 2019
Lovely lyrical book about the history of ravens in Britain.
August 24, 2019
A lyrical and poetic book, written by someone who loves ravens.
May 22, 2023
Interesting and balanced book about Ravens.
August 27, 2024
kind of boring honestly 🤷🏻♀️
January 2, 2025
TW: death, animal abuse, hunting, uncorrected use of g word referring to Romani peoples
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews