Category: Literature & History

The Crow & the Fox

Jean de La Fontaine (July 8, 1621, Chateau-Thierry, April 13, 1695) was the most famous French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. While he

Regardless of anyone’s personal philosophy, we believe it is important to learn the significance symbols such as the Crow and Raven have had in cultures throughout the centuries. Ravens appear several times

Japan’s Samurai Blue & the Three Legged Crow

We touched on Japanese mythology awhile back, skimming over the several ways in which crows and ravens have spiralled their way into Japanese art, culture, and religion throughout the centuries. With World

Shade, a Very Smart Raven

Author Diane Phelps Budden witnessed firsthand the special relationship between Sedona resident Emily Cory and a raven and found it so inspiring that she has written a book for children, “Shade: A

John Marzluff: Crows & Ravens Lecture Series

Start the series here: John Marzluff, Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington, began his career researching the social behavior and ecology of jays and ravens. He currently brings this

Ravens in the Grimm’s Fairy Tales

Ravens appear often throughout Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Louis Rhead’s illustrations. In the 12 Brothers, a young girl is haunted by her mother’s tale of 12 brothers who disappeared before she was

Lyanda Haupt’s Crow Planet

When she set out to write about the crow the black sheep of the avian world the naturalist Lyanda Lynn Haupt didn’t relish the task. “I never meant to watch crows especially,”

Charles Dickens & Grip the Raven

Grip was a beloved pet of Dickens. The author inserted the blabbing raven as a character in his 1841 serialized mystery novel, Barnaby Rudge. We know that Poe reviewed Barnaby Rudge and commented on the use of the talking raven, feeling the bird should have loomed larger in the plot. Literary experts surmise that the talking raven of Barnaby Rudge inspired Poe’s most famous poem, The Raven, published in 1845.

Ravens in Celtic Mythology

Ravens figure heavily in Celtic mythology and legend. They were linked to darkness and death – especially the death of warriors in battle. Celtic war goddesses often took the form of a

In the Company of Crows and Ravens

John Marzluff and Tony Angell examine the often surprising ways that crows and humans interact. The authors contend that those interactions reflect a process of "cultural coevolution." They offer a challenging new view of the human-crow dynamic a view that may change our thinking not only about crows but also about ourselves.

Aves Noir | Crows & Ravens