maybe you’ve fallen in love with the starz series and want to see the novels that inspired it. Maybe you’re a fan of Diana Gabaldon and wondering if the TV adaptation is true to the books. or maybe you’re just curious about how the outlander books are different from the outlander show, and which one is better. Regardless, this guide to all things Outlander has you covered.
Outlander is a novel written by Diana Gabaldon and originally published in 1991. It blends several genres, including historical fiction, romance, adventure, and fantasy. outlander was an instant hit, selling millions of copies and winning the u.s. romance writers rita award for best romance novel. the book became the first in what is now one of the best-selling book series of all time. outlander has been adapted into a graphic novel, a musical, and in particular the very popular television series outlander , which premiered on starz in 2013.
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Like the novels on which it is based, the television series outlander also has a huge following, with millions of viewers tuning in every week to watch the show. Five seasons of the show have already aired and it has since been renewed for a sixth and seventh season. so it’s safe to say that outlander isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Both the novels and the television series center on the story of Claire Randall, a 20th-century British nurse who travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland. There, she meets highland warrior Jamie Fraser, nurses him back to health, and her passionate romance begins. is a compelling story full of drama, twists, lots of sexy moments, and even a bit of humor. but which version tells the story better: the books or the series?
well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. In many ways, both the TV series and the book series tell the same story and introduce fans to the same characters. still, there are many differences and unique elements that make each version different. the outlander saga is worth listening to and watching.
is outlander true to the books?
there are many differences between the outlander books and the starz tv show based on the books. given that the eight novels in the series add up to thousands of pages, and the audiobooks run for hundreds of hours throughout the series, it’s impossible for the show to cover all of the source material. some things have been omitted and others have been condensed. The following are the most significant changes from the Outlander books to the Outlander TV series.
what are some of the main differences between the outlander books and the series?
jamie and claire look
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if you listen to the outlanders books and then watch the show, jamie and claire may look a little different than you imagined. For Jamie, Diana Gabaldon wrote a man who had a large, muscular figure, red hair, and dark blue eyes. While actor Sam Heughan has red hair, some viewers initially felt that Heughan’s hair wasn’t red enough and that the actor just wasn’t as muscular as they imagined. As for the actress who plays Claire, Caitriona Balfe is older than Claire in the first novel. And while Claire’s eyes should be brown, Balfe’s eyes are very, very blue. But like any good actor, Heughan and Balfe have embodied their roles, and now most viewers can’t imagine Claire or Jamie being played by someone else.
the character of frank
Claire’s first husband, Frank Randall, is quite different in the novels than he is in the series. In the books, Frank is very unpleasant, so when Claire falls in love with Jamie, her decision is clear and understandable. However, the series makes Frank a more sympathetic character, causing the audience to question Claire’s choice to enter into a new relationship with Jamie.
murtagh’s story
this is a big one. In the book series, Murtagh is killed early in the battle, in the first novel. Not so in the TV series. In fact, Murtagh is still very much alive on the Outlander show, at least through season five, which means a lot of storylines (and romance) that weren’t part of the novels. This is a fun little surprise for fans of the books, as no one is sure what will happen to Murtagh’s story.
the perspective
the outsider novels are told exclusively from claire’s point of view. so we see everything that happens through her eyes. on the show, we get a lot more from other characters. Sometimes it even includes narration from Jamie’s point of view.
Which characters from the Outlanders books were cut from the show?
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many. While some stories (such as Murtagh’s) were added, many other characters and stories had to be streamlined to make room for the most essential characters in the series. Some of the more significant characters not appearing on the show include: Nacognaweto, the village chief of the Tuscarora people; Jewish natural scientist Lawrence Stern; Jamie’s cousin, Alexander Fraser; Austrian musician Johannes Gerstmann; Mr. Bainbridge, a barrister from Inverness whom Frank Randall meets to discuss history; Lady Annabelle Macrannoch, wife of Marcus Macrannoch; and many more.
why is claire marrying john grey?
There are many reasons why the marriage between Claire and John Gray has outlander fans stumped. First of all, Claire is clearly in love with Jamie, and everyone knows that Jamie is who Claire is supposed to be with. secondly, well, john gray is also in love with jamie. So why is Claire marrying John Grey? In April 1778, John receives news that Jamie’s ship has sunk, he rushes to inform Claire, and he and Claire assume Jamie is dead. John then meets Captain Richardson, who tells John that he intends to arrest Claire for espionage. so john tells claire that they should marry for her protection. Because he loves Jamie so deeply, John sees this act as the last act of love he can do for his late friend Jamie.
Claire and Jamie die in the Outlander books?
While both Claire and Jamie have had their share of brushes with death throughout the series, both characters are still very much alive. Jamie was supposed to be dead after his boat sank, but while both John and Claire mourned his death, they later find out that he is still alive, and of course there is some drama and fallout around that. .
Is each season of outlander a book?
yes, each season of outlander follows a book in the series, although of course some changes are made in the adaptation process. The first season of Outlander is adapted from the first novel in the series, also titled Outlander. the second season is based on dragonfly in amber, the third on voyager, the fourth on drums of autumn, the fifth in the cross of fire, and the upcoming sixth season of the show will be based on the sixth book, a breath of snow and ashes. outlander has also already been renewed for a seventh season, which will be based on an echo in the bones.
how many books will there be in the outlander series?
diana gabaldon is planning ten volumes in the outlander series. the first eight have already been published, including written in my heart’s own blood, and the ninth novel, go tell the bees I’m gone , is scheduled to be released on November 23, 2021. There is also a spin-off series called the Lord John Series that focuses on the story of Lord John Grey.
how do the outlander books end?
While little is known about the tenth and final book in the series, Gabaldon has hinted that Outlander will ultimately have a happy ending. For more speculation on what’s to come, check out this article that looks at how the books end and what to expect from the show’s sixth season.
emily martin is a contributing editor for book riot and podcasts/blogs with book squad goals. she has a master’s degree in creative writing, a doctorate in English, three cats and too many books.
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