Book Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Series Name: Outlander
Book No.: 1
Genre: Fantasy time-travel, historical fiction
First Published: 1991
Publisher: Delacorte Books
I watched Outlander a few years ago, probably at the start of the pandemic. Unfortunately, the streaming service I was watching it on, Amazon, had removed it from the platform before I could finish the series, so I decided I would pick up the book.
I am surprised how close the tv series is to the first book. It’s like watching it for the first time all over again. I think the only main difference is that there is less flashbacks to her life with Frank in the book, whereas the TV series shows their life together more throughout. But different platforms work in different ways, and I think the book is just amazing.
I listened and read this book at the same time. The audiobook narration was really well read.
Outlander Synopsis
Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the second world war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in 1743.
Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
~Goodreads
World-building of Outlander
The world-building is outstanding and immersive from start to finish, whether that’s in the twentieth century or the eighteenth. You have the sense of magic around the Scottish Highlands way before Claire is transported into the eighteenth century, and I love the little seeds of ancestries carried on between the eras too. The word Sassenac is used early on so that the reader knows what it means when Claire is transported through time.
I also loved that Claire, when she does get transported, immediately thought that the Scotts and the English she encountered in the first day were making a film or were re-enacting an event. It would be the most logical thing that it could be. She quickly realises that she is wrong and initially tries to get home to her husband. The plot and pacing was a good balance for me. We’re exploring the world through Claire’s eyes, so because everything is new customs to her, we’re learning at the same time.
Every detail, from how they treat women in the eighteenth century, to how men interacted felt authentic and it honestly felt that I was also transported into the story with her. Considering that, at the time of reading Outlander, I had also just finished researching the eighteenth century for my own novel, that is good doing. I came across elements that I had also researched and it just added to the reality for me.
Triggering Themes For Some
This book is not for you if sexual assault is something that you would struggle to read about. Having said that, for me, that is usually a struggle and I managed fine. The moment Claire is transported back in time, she has to deal with the vulnerability of a woman in a time where rape wasn’t something that was prosecuted. Her first encounter with an eighteenth century man ends in almost rape. Also in this time, marital rape isn’t considered rape, which is why I can understand somewhat why Jamie does not listen to her when she says she does not want to have sex.
The book does have a lot of issues around consent which will affect how the readers see Jamie. Gabaldon does not hold back from forced marriage (in order to protect Claire) to sexual assault, to consensual acts of love, to whipping. However, it is also important that the book is over 30 years old, and the times that the book is set is also different to the times now.
The book does get a lot of critisism, with readers accusing the author of making a convenient way for the protagonist to have an affair on her husband by sending her back in time. I do see the points. I know that not everyone is going to be comfortable reading the themes, and that’s fine. The book is not for them. However, for this book, most of them serves a purpose and is important to the plot and the characters’ development. Not all… but most. It also shows the danger a woman who does not fit in within the normal culture could potentially face. Normally, these sort of themes, I struggle to read but I did manage fine with this book.
Plot and olacing
Characters
From the second we meet the characters, we’re drawn to who they are. Jack Randell immediately shows his true colours within the first few pages of being introduced to him. Yet, around other soldiers, he acts like the perfect gentleman.
Jamie and his clan also show who they are. They have no idea who Claire is but they know she is English. They have every right to distrust her… and indeed, they do. But despite that, they realise she is in danger and in good conscience cannot leave her in the care of Jack Randell.
Frank Randell is Jack’s descendent but is the complete opposite to his ancestor. In fact, I think Claire refers to his discussions as sort of boring. She’s not interested (or wasn’t as interested) in history as much as her husband is. Each character jumps off the page.
I like the scenes where Claire compares her love for Jamie with her love for Frank. Slowly, she comes to the realisation that she loves one more than the other. Not because her first husband was mean, but because it was a different kind of love. The one she has for Jamie has meaning, had time to develop and came from their time together. The one she had with Frank had no deep connections.
Jamie helps Claire to adjust to the eighteenth century and he also believes her when she tells him the truth… eventually. Knowing that she is from a different time also sees that he changes. He realises her strange ways are because of her strange time and he accepts her for who she is.
Overall thoughts
Personally, I loved Outlander and I plan to read or listen to the rest of the series when I have time. Probably do both. However, it can be problematic to other readers due to the themes. I think a lot of readers also try and hold it to the values we have now. But the truth is, we have changed a lot of views in the last 35 years. Gender equality, autonominy and identity has increased enough for people to even explore new concepts that didn’t have a name over 30 years ago.
So if you read this book, remember the time when it was first written, and the environment and values that the author would have been exposed to. It doesn’t mean that the characters having affairs or sexual assault is excusable, but it might explain why the book is controversal for modern day.