Many years ago, I bought this book because the cover of the German edition had caught my eye. And after reading the summary I had to have it. And it turned out to be one of the best books I´ve ever had in my hands and the pleasure of reading it. If you are not familiar with the author, this novel is the best way to get to know her.
Outlander
by Diana GabaldonOutlander Series #1
Publisher Turtleback Books on June 2, 1992
Genre Historical Fantasy
Pages 896
Format Hardcover
Source Purchased
Goodreads
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The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is just back from the 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 the year of Our Lord … 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. Marooned amid danger, passion, and violence, Claire learns her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. He 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.
Story
The young nurse Claire Randall and her husband Frank spend the second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands. Frank wants to track down his famous ancestor Black Jack Randall, so he and Claire walk in the footsteps of the past. One day, when Claire comes close to a stone circle and touches it, she loses consciousness and comes to during a battle of Scottish rebels. First, Claire thinks the people she meets so suddenly are actors and moves from one more threatening situation to the next. But slowly but surely, she begins to understand that she is in a strange time that she only knows from the stories of her husband Frank and the history books. She meets red-haired rebel James Fraser, and he comes to her aid in life-threatening situations more than once. The paths of the two cross again and again, and Claire senses that this man will be her destiny and that she will experience love, passion, rebellion, and deadly danger at his side. Because Jamie not only takes Claire up into the Highlands, he also shares his life at Leoch Castle and his Lallybroch estate with her. Thanks to Claire´s medical and historical knowledge, the Scottish rebels are able to master many a dangerous situation and survive some injuries without major problems. But one day, Jamie is captured by Black Jack Randall, an ancestor of Frank, and a cruel and painful time begins for the two.
Style
Diana Gabaldon wrote this novel in Claire Randall´s first-person perspective. The story begins in Inverness, Scotland in 1945, and the author excellently understood how to combine historical facts and a soulful love story in a gripping way, without being boring or instructive.vThe author has a unique way to describe things. Her language is complex but easy to read and understand. And she has not only one word to describe a setting or a scene. The novel literally comes to life and you can see everything right before your inner eye. A fact I very much appreciate when I read a book.
Characters
The characters appear lively and believable, and become authentic and real through the different languages they speak, such as Scottish, French, and Latin. Diana Gabaldon described her characters in brightly colored words, allowing the reader to directly share the feelings of her protagonist Claire. Within no time I was fascinated by Claire and how she sees things or goes into action. For her, life is a gift, something she would never give up easily. And with her knowledge from the year 1945, she is on the one hand a gift for the people in 1743 but also something they don´t want to lose. Because Claire does everything to find a way back into her own time. The inner conflict she´s in is shown by the author in a sensitive way.
Conclusion
A wonderfully successful, opulent historical novel that sends the reader on a fascinating journey to Scotland in the 18th century and brings history to life in a wonderful way.
Happy reading
Diana Gabaldon
Diana Gabaldon was an honorary professor of deep-sea biology and zoology at the University of Arizona before devoting her full-time to writing. Already her first novel Outlander was a huge international success and led to millions of readers becoming enthusiastic fans of her novels. She is the mother of three grown children and lives with her husband in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
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I remember reading Outlander a couple of years ago and I LOVED it. I should continue this series one day.
ReplyDeletePeople around me are enthusiastic about the TV Series as well...
I'm glad you liked it :)
I read all books of this series that are out so far and watched the series too. At least the first two seasons. After that I stopped when I noticed that they took out some great stuff that happened in the books.
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