Outlander (called Cross Stitch in the United Kingdom) is a book written by American author Diana Gabaldon. It was first published in 1991. The story begins during World War II and follows nurse Claire Beauchamp, who travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland. There, she meets Jamie Fraser, a brave and kind man, and experiences exciting adventures and a love story. Outlander is the first book in a series that will have ten books total. Nine books in the series have already been published. A television version of the story first aired on Starz in the United States on August 9, 2014.

The series mixes different types of stories, including historical events, love stories, exciting journeys, and magical elements. More than 25 million copies of the first book have been sold worldwide. The first book won the RITA Award, given by the Romance Writers of America, in 1992.

Plot summary

In 1946, after working separately during World War II, former British Army nurse Claire Randall and her husband Frank Randall, a history professor, go on a second honeymoon to Inverness, Scotland. Frank studies his family history, while Claire collects plants near a stone circle on the hill of Craigh na Dun. While investigating a buzzing sound near the stones, Claire touches one and faints. When she wakes, she meets Frank's ancestor, Captain Jack Randall. Before Captain Randall can harm her, a Highlander knocks him unconscious and takes Claire to his people. The Scots care for their injured friend, Jamie, but Claire uses her medical knowledge to fix Jamie's broken shoulder. The men say they are part of Clan MacKenzie, and Claire realizes she has traveled to the past. She claims to be an English widow traveling to France to visit her family. The Scots do not believe her and take her to Castle Leoch, where she searches for a way to return to her time.

In 1743, the Highlanders call Claire a "Sassenach," or "Outlander," because she does not know Gaelic culture. Her medical skills earn the clan's respect, but the leader, Colum MacKenzie, suspects she is a government spy. Colum sends her with his brother, Dougal, to collect taxes and also asks for donations for the Jacobites, a group supported by Ned Gowan, a lawyer from Edinburgh.

When Claire is noticed again, Captain Randall tells Dougal to bring her for questioning. There is suspicion she might be a spy. To keep her away from Randall, Dougal has her marry Jamie, making her a Scottish citizen. Claire is torn between her feelings for Jamie and her thoughts of Frank. She tries to return to Craigh na Dun but is captured by Randall's men, forcing Jamie to rescue her. Back at Castle Leoch, Claire continues as the official healer and becomes friends with Geillis Duncan, the wife of a local official, who shares medical knowledge. Later, Claire and Geillis are accused of witchcraft while Jamie is away, but Jamie returns in time to save her. While imprisoned with Geillis, Claire learns Geillis is part of a plan to restore King James to the throne with Dougal and that she is pregnant with his child. Before escaping, Claire sees a smallpox vaccine scar on Geillis's arm, realizing Geillis is also from the future. Geillis notices Claire's scar as well.

Claire tells Jamie her true story, and he takes her to Craigh na Dun. When Jamie offers her a choice to stay or return to her time, she decides to stay. Jamie takes her to his home, Lallybroch, where they meet Jamie's sister Jenny and her husband, Ian. Though Jamie is still a fugitive, he regains his position as Laird of Lallybroch until a tenant betrays him, and he is taken to Wentworth Prison. Claire and the MacKenzie clansmen try to rescue him but fail, and Claire is captured by Randall, who threatens to harm her. Jamie offers to take her place, and Randall releases Claire into the woods. Claire tells Randall she is a witch and reveals the exact day of his death, which she learned from Frank's family history. Afterward, Claire is helped by Sir Marcus MacRannoch, a former suitor of Jamie's mother. While MacRannoch's men distract the guards, the clansmen lead cattle through the prison's underground halls, causing chaos. They rescue Jamie, who was physically and sexually abused by Randall, and take him to MacRannoch's stronghold, where Claire treats Jamie's injuries. Once Jamie is well, he and his godfather, Murtagh, escape to Saint Anne de Beaupre's monastery in France, where another uncle is the abbot. As Claire and Jamie emerge from a sacred hot spring under the Abbey, Claire reveals she is pregnant.

Main characters

• Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser: A kind, independent, and skilled former nurse who accidentally travels back in time to the Scottish Highlands in the mid-1700s. She is married to Frank Randall in the 20th century but falls in love with Jamie Fraser in the 18th century. Claire is a talented healer and plant expert. She is an only child who was raised by her uncle, an archaeologist.
• James "Jamie" MacKenzie Fraser (also called Jamie MacTavish): A strong, young Scottish man with red hair and a complex past. Jamie is smart, honest, and well-educated for his time. He learns languages quickly and develops feelings for Claire after their first meeting. Though he sometimes does not understand her actions, Jamie often trusts her.
• Franklin “Frank” Wolverton Randall: Claire’s husband in the 20th century. He is a history teacher who studies his family’s background. He worked as a secret agent for MI6 during World War II.
• Jonathan Randall (also called "Black Jack" Randall): The main antagonist of the story and Frank Randall’s ancestor. He is a British army officer. Jamie says the word "Black" describes the color of his soul. Black Jack looks similar to Frank but has a cruel and obsessive interest in Jamie.
• Callum (Colum) MacKenzie: The leader of the MacKenzie clan and Jamie’s maternal uncle. He protects Jamie and Claire from soldiers. He has a medical condition called Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome.
• Dougal MacKenzie: Callum’s younger brother who leads the clan in battles because Callum is disabled. He may be the biological father of Callum’s son, Hamish. Dougal once raised Jamie as a foster son and has four daughters with his wife and a son with Geillis Duncan.
• Geillis/Geilie Duncan: The wife of a government official who believes she is a witch. She knows about plants and herbs. She is pregnant with Dougal’s child when she is arrested for witchcraft, which delays her execution. She kills her husband, Arthur Duncan. Later, Claire discovers Geillis is also a time-traveler from the 1960s.
• Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser: Jamie’s godfather. He is quiet, brave, and loyal to Jamie, treating him like a son. At first, Murtagh does not approve of Claire but later accepts her after seeing how much Jamie cares for her.
• Laoghaire MacKenzie: A 16-year-old girl who is drawn to Jamie. She sends Claire to Geillis Duncan before a witch trial because she loves Jamie and wants him to return to her.

Development and inspiration

Diana Gabaldon planned to write a historical novel for practice, but she did not decide on a specific time or place until she watched The War Games, a classic Doctor Who serial, on PBS. She was drawn to the character Jamie McCrimmon, a young Scottish man from 1745 played by actor Frazer Hines. The image of Jamie in his kilt stayed with her, and she chose to set her novel in 18th-century Scotland. She named her male main character "Jamie" after the Doctor Who character. However, the surname "Fraser" was not taken from actor Frazer Hines, as the PBS broadcast cut off the program’s credits before showing the actor’s name.

Gabaldon originally intended to write a "straight historical novel," but as she began writing the character of Claire, she said the character "took control of the story and made modern comments about everything." This led her to make Claire a modern woman and later explain how she ended up in 18th-century Scotland.

Gabaldon noted a difference in dates between the American and British versions of the novel. The American version begins in 1945, while the British version begins in 1946. She explained that Reay Tannahill, a Scottish proofreader who reviewed the book before its UK publication, pointed out that 1946 better matched the conditions she described in Scotland. Gabaldon updated the dates for the UK edition, but the American version was too far along in production to change.

Reception and awards

Publishers Weekly described Outlander as "absorbing and heartwarming." The book brings to life the land and traditions of Scotland, with realistic characters and a brave, friendly main character. With 25 million copies sold, Outlander is one of the best-selling book series ever. The novel won the RITA Award for Best Romance in 1991, given by the Romance Writers of America.

Television series

In June 2013, Starz ordered 16 episodes of a TV show. Production started in October 2013 in Scotland. The series first aired in the United States on August 9, 2014. Starz continued the series for a second season on August 15, 2014, and for seasons three and four on June 1, 2016. On May 9, 2018, Starz renewed the series for seasons five and six.

Other adaptations

In 2010, Diana Gabaldon changed the first part of Outlander into a graphic novel called The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel. Hoang Nguyen drew the pictures for this book. That same year, a collection of 14 songs based on Outlander was released. This musical was called Outlander: The Musical.