Outlander: A Novel

Diana Gabaldon

Oct 2004 · Outlander Book 1 · Sold by Dell

About this eBook

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A STARZ ORIGINAL SERIES 

Unrivaled storytelling. Unforgettable characters. Rich historical detail. These are the hallmarks of Diana Gabaldon’s work. Her New York Times bestselling Outlander novels have earned the praise of critics and captured the hearts of millions of fans. Here is the story that started it all, introducing two remarkable characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.

One of the top ten best-loved novels in America, as seen on PBS’s The Great American Read!

Scottish Highlands, 1945. Claire Randall, a former British 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 clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.

Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of a world that threatens her life, and may 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. What begins in compulsion becomes urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives.

This eBook includes the full text of the novel plus the following additional content:
• An excerpt from Diana Gabaldon’s Dragonfly in Amber, the second novel in the Outlander series 
• An interview with Diana Gabaldon 
• An Outlander reader’s guide

Praise for Outlander

“Marvelous and fantastic adventures, romance, sex . . . perfect escape reading.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“History comes deliciously alive on the page.”—New York Daily News

Ratings and reviews

Diana G. takes one on quite the adventure! I can honestly remember the afternoon I stumbled upon the first book Is seen by this author. In the local library, tucked away in a quiet corner in a comfy chair, I was reading a book I couldn't stay intrested in. I had sighed and looked up and scanned the shelves nearest my posistion when, "Dragonfly in Amber" a book in the "OUTLANDER" series 📚 caught my eye. I rise from my chair and snoodle on over to the shelf, pull down the book and began reading. In a moment I realize this is a book that belongs in a series! It was so good in less than 3 pages reading D.G. had hooked me like a trout on tasty bait! So I flipped the large book over to find out the order of the series and " Outlander is #1. I hunted that one down and thankfully it wasn't checked out! It wasn't checked out that is, until I checked it out just a few minutes later!!! What an excellent read! Clair, our main character is a multi-faceted lady who unexpectedly wins up a few hundred years before her time after a strange occurrence whilst on a trip with her husband. In trying not to spoil your read! Hence the vague explanations! Almost immediately, D.G. introduces tensions and intrigues! One if my mise BELOVED factors in this book, and the entire series, is the exhaustive historocity brought to bear. The authoress us not guess or fudgibg here and there! No She has made it so factual I was able to forget that I was reading fiction and was able to be carried away in the story! I was right with Clair, in on the action, breathlessly awaiting to see what would befall us next! Oh! This is over 20 years ago now. Yet, it is like it was just a few days ago I found my favorite authoress! I can attest to the truth that D.G. gifted to me the LOVE for HISTORY that I bare gladly to THIS day. She lifted away the dust and gloom, let air in on stuffy dates I could never remember and made me come in on a level of HISTORY that I'd NEVER even imagined! History came alive! History living and breathing, visceral, hot, sexy, scary, bloody, beautiful, exceptionally fine, whitest lenin, stiffest starched lace, rich, bedraggled, back-bent, snuggle-toothed impoverished. History is kilted with sporrans slung 'round the hips, dagger in the boot, skirts long touching the ground, virtue a thing of inestimable worth. Bonny Prince Charlie, Highlanders, the Clan, the long sword, the desperate struggle, the impeachment of a way if life, the prohibition of the bagpipes, if any weapons, if even the plaids the highland Clans used to identify themselves one from another. Oh! How rich is the history this book, and this series of books, bring to life! I feel honored to have found this ladie's efforts at authorship so proudly and profoundly executed! I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good read and especially if you need an escape for awhile! It's much more healthy than a drink but will pair perfectly with cheese and wine! Happy Reading dear friends AB..-Lady Charlotte Grace

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Now I will admit that I really haven't read alot (if any) of historical fiction but this book series is going to change all of that. I absolutely loved the settings. I loved the 1940's tie in that the series has. I loved both time periods, character unfolding, settings, the crisis', her double lives, and um... the *steamy* scenes too. This book might be thick but once you start reading it you are totally NOT going to care. I'm hooked! I tip my hat to Ms. Gabaldon. This work is one piece of extraordinary writing. Well done!

I really loved reading the book. And the series on Starz has paid a lot of attention to detail. I very gladly that the director did his research and consulted the author of the story. But I have a feeling that Season 2 will be the end for Starz unless they go in a different direction. But if ended with Season 2 I hope they bring Jaime & Claire together for the conclusion. Cause they have a love that stands the test of time. Two thumbs up for the author cause girl you show do know how to write.

About the author

Diana Gabaldon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the wildly popular Outlander novels—Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voy­ager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes (for which she won a Quill Award and the Corine International Book Prize), An Echo in the Bone, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone—as well as the related Lord John Grey books, Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John and the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner; a collection of novellas, Seven Stones to Stand or Fall; three works of nonfiction, “I Give You My Body . . .” and The Outlandish Com­panion, Volumes 1 and 2; the Outlander graphic novel The Exile; and The Official Outlander Coloring Book. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband.