OUTLANDER – Novel by Diana Gabaldon

Currently she lives in Scottsdale (Arizona), with her husband – they have three adult children – (but also with two big, fat dachshunds, 2.5 cats, a varying number of parakeets and a lot of uninvited wildlife). Diana J. Gabaldon is an American author, known for the Outlander series of novels. Her books merge multiple genres, featuring elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure and science. In 1988, she decided to write a novel for “practice, just to learn how” and with no intention to show it to anyone. As a research professor, she decided that a historical novel would be easiest to research and write, but she had no background in history and initially no particular time period in mind. To explain the character’s modern behavior and attitudes, she chose to use time travel. Writing the novel at a time “when the World Wide Web didn’t exist.”

Outlander, is the first in a series of eight historical multi-genre novels by Diana Gabaldon. Published in 1991, it focuses on World War II-era nurse Claire Randall, who time travels to 18th century Scotland and finds adventure and romance with the dashing Jamie Fraser. After separation by their work in World War II, British Army nurse Claire Randall and her husband Frank, a history professor, go on a second honeymoon to Inverness, Scotland, where Frank conducts research into his family history and Claire goes plant-gathering near standing stones on the hill of Craigh na Dun. She faints when investigating a buzzing noise near the stones; upon waking, she encounters Frank’s ancestor, Captain Jack Randall. Before Captain Randall can take her into his custody, he is knocked unconscious by a Scotsman who takes Claire to his party. Claire relates her predicament, and Jamie takes her to Craigh na Dun. When Jamie allows her to decide whether to stay with him or return to Frank, Claire prefers to stay, and Jamie takes her to his home of Lallybroch, where they share a happy peace with Jamie’s sister Jenny and her husband, Ian. https://www.amazon.com/Outlander-Series-8-Book/dp/B00O3HCMV6