How To Read The Outlander Books In Order | Speechify (2024)

Outlanderis a series of historical fiction novels by Diana Gabaldon. The series centers on Claire Randall, a WWII nurse suddenly transported back through time to 18th-century Scotland, where she meets Jamie Fraser, a charming highlander warrior. The series has inspired a whole franchise that now features the main series novels, novellas, short stories, and a graphic novel, as well as a musical and TV series adaptation.

Who is the author of the Outlander Series?

Diana Gabaldon is an American writer of historical fiction best known for herOutlanderseries. Gabaldon was born in 1952 in Arizona and has an impressive alma mater. Namely, she’s got a bachelor’s degree in Zoology, a Master’s in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D. in Ecology.

Gabaldon’s career as a novelist was somewhat of an accident. She used to work as an editor of a magazine calledScience Software Quarterlywhile working at Arizona State University in the ’80s. In 1988, she decided to write a novel for practice, with no intention of moving forward with it.

Inspired byDoctor Who, her initial writings grew into her time travel series,Outlander,featuring a 20th-century nurse in Jacobite Scotland. Gabaldon’s novels have won numerous awards and nominations, including the Quill Award, the RITA Award, and others.

What types of books does Diana Gabaldon write?

Gabaldon writes primarily historical fiction, although most of her novels have elements of other genres, such as romance, science fiction, and adventure, all of which are some of the main reasons fans have fallen in love with theOutlandernovels.

Gabaldon’s also written theLord John Greyseries. It features Lord John Grey, a secondary character known from theOutlanderseries, as he’s trying to stay afloat in 18th-century London full of mystery and intrigue.

What is the Outlander book series about?

The first book in theOutlanderseries sets the subsequent plot of the series rather well: Claire Randall and her husband Frank go to Scotland for their second honeymoon, but while picking flowers, Claire is suddenly transported back through time to Jacobite Scotland.

Now, she must rely on her wit and medical knowledge to gain respect and ensure she can work on a way to return home—instead of being killed for being a supposed English spy. What she doesn’t suspect, though, is that she’s not the only one from the future.

While the series focuses on Claire and her relationship with Jamie Fraser, a young Scottish warrior, the series also tackles themes such as time, fate, and determinism. It also blends multiple genres and paints a rich and detailed picture of 18th-century Scottish politics.

The series was adapted into a TV show. It first aired on Starz in 2014, and it’s still ongoing. It’s shot mostly in Scotland and North Carolina, and it stars Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan in the main roles.

In what order should you read the Outlander novel series?

Want to accompany Claire and experience the Jacobite rising through her eyes? We suggest you read the series in order of publication, as that’s the only way you can fully appreciate all the intricacies of the plot and the complex character development.

Publication order of the Outlander Books

The main series was published between 1991 and 2021 in the following order: