Dickens had a pet raven

The Free Library of Philadelphia's Rare Book Department is home to a large, glossy-looking dead raven by the name of Grip. Charles Dickens, the author of A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield, adored his pet, Grip. Grip was "free to run around the house like a dog or cat," according to librarian Karen Kirsheman at the Free Library. However, functioned as a character study for a raven in Dickens' Barnaby Rudge before becoming a companion because Dickens wanted to comprehend the motions and behavior of the bird.

Dickens and his family were charmed by Grip's cunning behavior and his capacity to mimic human speech (his go-to expression was "Halloa old girl"). The bird was so at ease that it ultimately formed the bad habit of biting people's ankles, which was enough to send Grip to Dickens' property's stables. However, Grip is thought to have foolishly swallowed paint during the time the stables were being painted white. He succumbed shortly after, perhaps from lead poisoning.

Edgar Allan Poe was inspired to compose the poem The Raven by this raven. Dickens had a taxidermist stuff his second pet after it passed away, and he then put it in a wooden and glass display. The Free Library of Philadelphia now houses the bird.