jableshables

jableshables OP t1_jcsj5uv wrote

Reply to comment by no-kooks in TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

Not knowing about the poem is one thing, but I can forgive people not knowing it's ultimately about a sassy bird that Charles Dickens kept as a pet

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jableshables OP t1_jcsgr87 wrote

Reply to comment by 80sBadGuy in TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

I've wondered this myself, as apparently it was a big problem back in the day that unattended children would just munch on paint chips and get lead poisoning.

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jableshables OP t1_jcrni6w wrote

Reply to comment by aquariusprincessxo in TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

This comment brought to you by someone who didn't Google "can ravens talk?"

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jableshables OP t1_jcrm4jv wrote

Reply to comment by AdvonKoulthar in TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

Right? If attacking the dog and eating its food and biting the children is respectful, the replacements must have been pretty awful.

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jableshables OP t1_jcrlxpk wrote

Reply to comment by nurdboy42 in TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

Apparently. Here's a YouTube video called "Ravens can talk!" but he only says a couple syllables at a time. I bet if you dig deeper you can find evidence of longer speech.

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jableshables OP t1_jcr7sbk wrote

Reply to comment by rapiertwit in TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

I have to think 1/120th of a famous taxidermied raven could buy you more than an imperial pound of lead paint back then, yeah

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jableshables OP t1_jcqh50h wrote

Reply to comment by rodeopete3281 in TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

Take it up with the historians, or the Wikipedia contributors, whichever's easier. Either way, I feel like that's the least interesting fact about Grip, but I had to include it

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jableshables OP t1_jcpbkqt wrote

Reply to TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library by jableshables

More interesting facts about Grip from the same article:

  • Her favorite phrase was "halloa old girl". Like her novel counterpart, she may have also said "Polly, put the kettle on, we'll all have tea", "keep up your spirits", and "bow wow wow".

  • She roamed freely around the household until she repeatedly bit the children's ankles, at which point she was banished to the stables, where she slept "generally on horseback".

  • Among the items she enjoyed burying are coins, cheese, potatoes, a brush, and a hammer that was apparently stolen from a carpenter.

  • She was succeeded in the Dickens household by two other "Grips" who were regarded as impudent and less intelligent.

  • Upon her death, she was taxidermied and mounted above Dickens's desk until his death, at which point she was auctioned for 120 guineas (around $20,000 USD in today's money). After which, having had various owners, she was purchased by an American businessman who willed her to her current owner, the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Truly a remarkable bird.

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