Mostly when folks Google for “what is outlander about”? They find not only that it a fictions historic Novel by Diana Gabaldon, but they also come to know that a television series that was based on the same novel “Outlander” has also been produced; that was aired on Starz in the United States.
2 The Author of Outlander
The author of the novel Outlander is Diana J.Gabaldon. She is an American writer. She is known for writing novels that are mainly based on mystery, historic fiction, adventure, fantasy, and science. By profession, she is a professor. Her notable work other than Outlander is ‘Science software Quarterly’ and ‘Lord Jhon’ Series.
She decided to write the novel Outlander in 1988. This historic series that she has worked on, has eight numbers of novels in it.
• Outlander
• Dragonfly in Amber
• Voyager
• Drums of Autumn
• The Fiery cross
• A breath of snow and ashes
• An echo in the bone
• Written in my own heart’s Blood
So far eight of this historic fantasy series have been published, while she had a plan of publishing totally ten novels in this series. ‘Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone’ is her next upcoming and will be the ninth novel of this series.
3 Outlander The Novel
Outlander is a novel that was published in the United Kingdom. The Outlander was published in 1991.
3.1 What is the Storyline For Outlander?
• Mr and Mrs Randall’s Honeymoon Trip
The story of the Outlander revolves around an ex British army nurse Claire Randall. It is 1946, an era of the Second World War. Her husband Frank Randall is a history professor. As they had engaged for a long time with their essential services during World War 2. So when they got freed they planned to spend a holiday together. For this, they selected Inverness, Scotland as their Honey Moon destination. As they reached there, professor Frank Randall started research to develop his family tree. Actually, he was trying to start a new career as an Oxford historian. While Claire in the leisure time used to go on a hill Craigh na Dun. She had developed her interest in the vegetation and the flora. There she loved to gather plants near the standing stones. One day a native local promised Claire that he will show her some of the botanical sites of the Inverness. On that day she went out with that local, who took her to a historic site. These were some ancient large stones that were standing in a format that was forming a circle. Later when she came back, she told Frank about those stones. After hearing that, Frank told Claire that he also have heard about this sort of a stone circle, and further that he got that know that the native women of this area still use this stone circle, to perform ‘old ways’ ceremony here.
• Beltane Festival
On the day of the Beltane festival, (The locals in Scotland and Ireland used to celebrate a Beltain Festival which means Gaelic May Day Festival which they observe on the first of May) Claire and Frank woke up early morning just to see that how the people gather there and celebrate this festival. They saw women dancing and chanting there. They both kept themselves hidden from them. Claire had observed an unusual plant that was growing just near that circle, so being curious she went near the circle. Suddenly she heard some murmuring sound. The sound of murmuring was coming from one of the stones. She got curious to find that what sound is it, for that she touched one of the stones. She immediately surrounded by a noisy Whirlpool. Due to that Claire got fainted.
• Clair Goes Back to 1743
After a long unconsciousness, when she woke up she saw that she is present on a hill, away from the stone circle. She stood up and tried to descend from the mountain slowly. She was thinking that what has happened was a part of a certain movie shoot. She made her way to that point from the woods, she was descending carefully in order not to disturb the shoot. In the meanwhile, she encountered a man who was wearing an eighteenth-century British army uniform. She didn’t feel amazed seeing him in this old uniform, but when she saw his face, she went crazy to see that he had his resemblance same like his husband, Frank. The army man told Clair that he is Captain Jonathan Randall. This was the same infamous Black Jack who was Frank’s ancestor, about whom Frank already had mentioned to his wife. Although Jack was quite similar in facial appearance with his husband, he was not similar to his descendant Frank, by nature.
• Claire’s Rescue
He forwarded to attack her. But before he could do that, she saw a highlander who knocked the captain Jack down. After rescuing Claire from the hold of the Jack, he took her with him. His fellows were hidden in a cottage. They were waiting for a dark, so this can help them to escape. In the cottage, she saw a man, named Jamie, who was badly hurt. As she was an ex-nurse, so she immediately starts treating his wounds. She still had no idea where is she and what time is it. The people inside the cottage were confused about seeing her dress. As it was much modern and advanced than the fashion of the 18th century. Though they just could match her dress with the design of the undergarments their ladies used to wear. They decided to take her with them as they could not leave an English lady who was all alone in the mountains. After they all left the cottage and started their journey in the dark.
• Arrival to the Castle Leoch
In the early morning, they arrived at the castle of the Mackenzie Clan, the Castle Leoch. There Claire met to an estate owner, from Scotland. His name was Colum Mackenzie. He found her so suspicious. Claire told him that she was escaped from the robbers. He listened to his story, calmly. After listening to what she told, he still didn’t get satisfied. For this, he decided that Claire shall remain in the castle until they can find more about her identity. They were doubted about her, which was natural due to her appearance. They can easily say that she is an English person, means someone who is not Scottish. Still, they gave her much space, and respect due to her service that she gave to their wounded people. Later Claire went with Dougal, the war chieftain of the Mackenzie clan, for the rent collection, Jamie also accompanied them.
• Second Marriage of Claire
Jack was interested in asking more questions from Claire, but Dougal stopped him from doing this. As Dougal did not like Jack the way he treated to Claire. Dougal when asked the lawyer of the clan, that what is the solution, or what they can do to safe this lady here among the Scots.
For this, he said that in one condition this issue can be solved.
If she gets married to a Scottish person. After that Dougal asked Claire to marry Jamie.
But she refused to do so. He gave more suggestions of the Scottish proposals as well.
She was much confused, she told him that she does not want to marry anyone, but she also didn’t declare that she is already married. Finally, she concluded that as the era she is in is the time when his husband is still not born. The situations compelled her so much that she says yes for Jamie. Their marriage ceremony took place in the same church where she had once tied a knot with Frank. Jamie had reserved a separate room for the wedding night. She was so down that she could not think much, but just that she has to safe herself first. She could not imagine making love with anyone other than Frank. But that night she drank enough, and they talked for hours. After that, she could not resist making love with Jamie. After marriage, she was so guilty of deceiving Jamie as well as betraying Frank.
• A Charge of Witchcraft on Claire
Claire was ignorant of the degree of suspiciousness that the locals in Scotland had for anyone who they find suspicions. On returning to the castle, the Scots women who also fell jealous with her blamed that she is witchcraft. So they took her to a thieves’ hole. There they put her in along with another victim Geillis. But Jamie made it to rescue them both. Claire saw that Geillis has on her arm a scar of the smallpox vaccination, which is the indication that she is definitely from the future like her.
• Claire Tells the Truth to Jamie
Finally, on the insist of the Jamie, she tells all what happen to her, that how she came to the past. Jamie certainly shocked, but he took a sensible decision and takes her to the stone circle. He let it on her to decide where she wants to live with Frank or him. He got delighted to see that she is willing to go with him. So he takes her to his home at Lallybroch.
• Jamie in the Prison
Jamie was taken to the Wentworth prison. He had a price on his head. After that, he was sentenced to death. Unluckily the brutal Jack Randall was also there. Who catches Claire as she tried to interfere to make her husband free. Jamie asked Randall to keep torturing him but let Claire go. Randall accepted this suggestion. Claire left but confessed to Randall that she is witchcraft and she curses him that he will have a son after marriage who will die before his birth.
Soon Claire managed to rescue Jamie with the help of Jamie’s relatives. After that, they escaped to the Abbey of Ste. Claire tries to heal his wounds, but his bones were severely broken. Meanwhile this time she meets a monk, who tells her that leave all that happened in your life on God. As you cannot do anything in this regard.
• Claire’s Start of a New Life
She does all that she could to heal Jamie’s wounds. After gaining health Jamie asks Claire to decide what she wishes. He gave her the options to decide where she wants to live, either France, Italy or Scotland? They finalized to settle in Paris. Before starting their journey they passed from the sacred water of the Abbey. After crossing the water together, Claire declared on Jamie that she is carrying their first baby.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
1. What is Outlander on Netflix about?
Well on the Netflix you can watch the Outlander a fantasy TV Show. That is also based on the same novel Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. This TV series is described on Netflix as a romantic odyssey. The show won “The Most Bingeworthy Show” at the critic’s choice award. There are 5 seasons of this series.
2. What age is Outlander book appropriate for?
The book Outlander is suitable for the mediocre ages, not too young nor too old people.
3. Should I read the book Outlander after watching the series?
Yes if you love to read books and have a strong sense of constructing the situations imaginary, then reading the complete novel will certainly be worth it.
4. Are the outlander books any good?
Well, there is a complete series available to watch that is made on Outlander. Still, the whole book series of the outlander is just too satisfactory for the book addictives, especially those who are in love to read archaeological and historical fiction.
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Conclusion
A superbly written book series with the name Outlander by Diana Gabaldon has got much fame among the book lovers. This historic fiction series has 8 books in the line that have been published so far. The outlander is the first novel of this series. Many people want to know the story of the Outlander before start reading it; that what is Outlander about? For them, this novel is all about the story of a woman who is an ex British army Nurse Mrs Claire in the time of the Second World War. She was on her second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband Frank; that one day while she was watching a celebration around an ancient stone circle, that she mistakenly goes back to the 16th century.
The story of Outlander revolves around her struggle to keep herself safe from couples of the troubles and dangers that were prevailing around her. She gets married reluctantly to Jamie to become a Scottish woman. After the revelation of the truth, that she has come from the future and that she was previously married, Jamie supported Claire to decide what she wants. Finally, she gave her decision in the favor of Jamie; and also gets pregnant with their first kid.