Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

This is a review of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (non spoiler)

The Plot

The story is about a woman in 1946 who goes to Scotland with her husband after the war to renew their love for each other in the place were they had their honeymoon. Fate brings her to the top of a hill were there is a Stonehenge type of thing that sends her back in time to 1743. There she arrives in the middle of a fight scene between Scottish highlanders and the an English redcoats. One thing leads to the other and she ends up as a prisoner/guest of the Scottish clan McKenzie. She has to try to fit in and at the same time try to get back to the rocks so she can go back to her own time.

The Characters

Claire Beauchamp : Clair is an English lady who was raised by her architect uncle after her parents died in a car accident. She was a nurse during the second world war. She has a passion for herbs and plants for medicinal reasons. Claire is married to Frank Randall.

Frank Randall: Claire’s husband and an historian. He uses their trip to Scotland to go see historical places and castles. He is also looking into an old ancestor of his called Jack Randall who apparently was a English officer during the  war between Scotland and England. He worked in intelligence during the war and was separated with Claire for a long time.

Jamie: Jamie is a young Scottish man that Claire helps heal when she first arrives in 1743. He has ties to the clan McKenzie but is really from another clan. He is a wanted fugitive with a price on his head for a crime he may or may not have committed. He is a person that helps those in need and stands up for others. He helps Claire adjust in a new place as well as she helps him.

Jack Randall: A English officer known for his sadistic behavior and being violent. His job is to keep the clans under control but his passion is inflicting pain. He is especially obsessed with Jamie and doesn’t really care what he does as long as he gets him.

Colum McKenzie: Is the laird of clan McKenzie and resides at Castle Leoch.  Colum is a smart man and a great leader always putting his clan before anything. He suffers from Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome and because of that he can not fulfill his duties as clan leader 100 %. Thankfully he has a lot of help from is younger brother Dougal.

Dougal McKenzie: Is the war chief of clan McKenzie. He takes the duties that his brother can not do such as go to war, collect the rent from their tenants. He is a strong and big man and is well respected by all the members of the clan. Dougal is a man that gets things done and respects his older brother who is laird.

Murtagh: Jamies godfather and the man that rescues/captures Claire when she arrives in 1743. He is Jamies right hand man as well as his most loyal companion. Were Jamie goes Murtagh goes. Not a man of many words.

Setting

The story is set in Scotland in 1946 and in 1743. Scotland is described in two different ways with the technology of the 1900’s and the old ways of the 1700’s. Some of the places we visit in both timelines.

Inverness: The city that Clair and Frank visit in  1946.

Castle Leoch: The castle that is the home to the clan McKenzie family.

Lallybroch: Jamie’s home

 

My thoughts

This book is old but the content of the book could have been written today. It is about time travel but in a mysterious type of way. There is no device that sends Claire back in time it is a stone and she does not really know how it works and if it will work again. if she touches the stone again will she be sent back to were she came from or will she be sent to an other time completely. This book is full of not knowing and as a book reader you sometimes end up guessing what will happen before it happens. With this book things are a bit different because there is so much that you don’t see coming at all. This book is filled with great fiction as well as a great amount of history. I am already over half way in the second book.

I give this book 5 stars