Diana Gabaldon

The author Diana Gabaldon first came to my notice a few years ago. I consider myself lucky because I had the first five Outlander books to read one after the other ... otherwise the suspense would have killed me! Upon reading them I was expecting a historical romance but what I read was a complex interwoven tale of such magnitude that I feel I know the characters personally. From the beautiful Scottish Highlands to the splender of the French Court. From the battlefield of Culloden to the American Revolution. The Outlander books construct a special place in your heart for the characters and atmosphere of the 18th century.

There are seven published Outlander books - Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, An Echo In The Bone and more recently WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD

It is very difficult to give a synopsis of all seven books due to the fact that they ecompass many storylines which are interwoven together and many primary characters are not introduced until later books. I will therefore only give details of the first book, Outlander in this lens to avoid any spoilers.

At the beginning of the book we see a feisty combat nurse Claire Beauchamp Randall visiting Scotland with her husband Frank after the ending of the second world war. On a trip to a stone circle, Craigh na Dun, she is thrown back in time to 1743 in the middle of a skirmish between the Clan McKenzies and a group of English dragoons. The Scots, wary of her identity, take her with them to Castle Leoch on the suspicion that she is a spy. Claire is later sought by the corrupt captain of the British garrison and in order to protect her she has little choice to marry the young outlawed highlander Jamie Fraser. Torn between her loyalty to her husband Frank Randall and her own safety she objects to the marriage at first but having already gotten to know Jamie, she knows that he is a man filled with honour and courage who will protect her no matter what the cost. Eventually through the trust they share they fall deeply in love and create a bond so strong and passionate that nothing can tear them apart. Not even two centuries ...

The books following Outlander continue the amazing saga of these endearing and charismatic characters. Diana Gabaldon is truly an exceptional writer and her amazing ability to describe the drama, passion and violence of 18th century Scotland makes these books the most memorable I have ever read. Whilst many would describe the books as "historical romance" that is only partially true. The love story between James Alexander Malcolm McKenzie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp Randall is the backbone which runs throughout the books but to describe it as a historical romance is almost an insult to these amazing books. If you are expecting a fluffy story and a light read these books aren't for you. They are gritty, harsh, tragic and barbaric in places but this of offset with oodles of courage, determination, humour and passion.

In the Autumn on 2014 we saw the first episodes of the Outlander TV series produced by Starz! The amazing show stays very close to the book and fans worldwide are already in love with the beautiful actor who plays Jamie Fraser. Sam Heughan really brings Jamie to life and is a pleasure to watch.

The character of Lord John Grey first appears properly in the Outlander series in Voyager (although he gets a guest appearance earlier on). He is depicted as a courageous nobleman with a unrequited love for Jamie Fraser. The Lord John books are period mysteries set against the backdrop of political upheaval of the 18th century. Set within the time scale of the Outlander books and occasionally incorporating the same story lines.