''Written in My Own Heart's Blood'' is the eighth book in the ''Outlander'' series of novels by

Diana Gabaldon Diana J. Gabaldon (; born January 11, 1952) 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 fiction/fantas ...

. Centered on

time travel Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a ...

ling 20th century doctor Claire Randall and her 18th century

Scottish Highland The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland S ...

er warrior husband Jamie Fraser, the books contain elements of historical fiction,

romance Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to: Common meanings * Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings * Romance languages, ...

adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme ...

and

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

. Published on June 10, 2014, ''Written in My Own Heart's Blood'' continues the love story of Claire and Jamie as well as the story arcs of multiple characters from the previous novel, ''

An Echo in the Bone ''An Echo in the Bone'' is the seventh book in the ''Outlander'' series of novels by Diana Gabaldon. Centered on time travelling 20th century doctor Claire Fraser and her 18th century Scottish Highlander warrior husband Jamie Fraser, the books ...

''. Gabaldon announced the novel's title in September 2011.

Plot summary

The British evacuation of Philadelphia and the ensuing Battle of Monmouth are the major events from the book based on real history. Claire marries John Grey for protection after Jamie is presumed lost at sea. John and Jamie fight when the details are revealed. John's stepson William is angry at finding out he's Jamie's biological son. Jamie's nephew Ian marries Rachel Hunter and her brother Denzell weds John's niece Dorothea in the same ceremony. The Hunters are

Quakers Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abil ...

and their service with the Continental Army even as noncombatants gets them ostracized by other Quakers. Claire is wounded at Monmouth and Jamie resigns from the Continental Army to remain by her side. After spending time in Savannah, they return to Fraser's Ridge, their farm settlement in North Carolina. The printshop and home of Jamie's adopted son Fergus burns down. Fergus's son Henri-Christian dies trying to escape the flames. In the 20th century, Jamie and Claire's grandson Jeremiah is kidnapped. Their son-in-law Roger meets Jamie's father and his own when time traveling to find Jeremiah. After the boy is recovered, his family joins the Frasers in the 18th century.

Characters

Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Randall Fraser - Main character around whom the series revolves. Nurse/Physician. Born in 1918 and married in the 20th century to professor/historian Frank Randall, Claire falls through the standing stones at Craigh na Dun in Scotland at Beltane (1 May) while on a second honeymoon with Frank in 1946, and finds herself in the 18th century Scotland Highlands in 1743. She is forced to marry James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser (Jamie), with whom she eventually falls in love. Mother of Faith (stillborn, 18th century) and Brianna, adoptive mother of Fergus, and mother-in-law to Marsali. Returned through the stones to 20th century in 1746 to protect her and Jamie's unborn child (who is then born in Boston in the 20th century). Twenty years later, after Frank Randall has died, Claire discovers (through Roger's research) that Jamie probably didn't die at Culloden, and she returns through the standing stones to 1766 to search for him. James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser - Laird of Lallybroch (Scotland) and Fraser's Ridge,

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

. Former inmate of Ardsmuir Prison. Eighteenth century husband of Claire, whom he affectionately calls "Sassenach". Father of Faith (stillborn - mother: Claire), Brianna (mother: Claire), adoptive father to Fergus (with Claire), biological father of William Ransom (mother: Geneva Dunsany), ex-stepfather to Marsali and Joan (mother: ex-wife Laoghaire), . Lord John William Grey - Retired veteran of the

Rising of 1745 The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took pl ...

and

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (175 ...

. The former governor of Ardsmuir Prison. Jamie and Claire's long time friend. Stepfather of William Ransom, brother to Harold Grey, Duke of Pardloe, and uncle to Benjamin, Henry, Adam, and Dorothea Grey. Lt. Lord William Ransom - The 9th Earl of Ellsmere, stepson of Lord John Grey, and the illegitimate son of James Fraser and Geneva Dunsany. Cousin to the children of Hal Grey, Duke of Pardloe, as well as the children of Jenny and Ian Murray. Ian Murray ("Young" or equivalent like the Gaelic "Og" used to distinguish from his father of the same name) - Jenny and Ian Murray's son, Jamie and Claire's nephew, and Fergus', Brianna's and William's cousin. Adopted into the

Mohawk Mohawk may refer to: Related to Native Americans * Mohawk people, an indigenous people of North America (Canada and New York) *Mohawk language, the language spoken by the Mohawk people * Mohawk hairstyle, from a hairstyle once thought to have been ...

, but returned to the Ridge with Rollo, his half-wolf dog. Brianna Ellen MacKenzie - Jamie and Claire's daughter born in 20th century

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

and raised by Claire and Frank Randall. Arrives in the 18th century in 1769. She marries Roger and they have two children: a son, Jeremiah, known as "Jemmy" and a daughter, Amanda Claire Hope MacKenzie (Mandy). Roger MacKenzie - One-time

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

professor and historian, folksinger, minister and Gaelic teacher. Twentieth century descendant of Geillis Duncan and Dougal MacKenzie, great-nephew and adopted son of Rev. Reginald Wakefield (Outlander), and Jamie and Claire's son-in-law. Arrives in the 18th century in 1769. Married to Brianna and father of Jemmy and Mandy. The family lives at present-day Lallybroch, the Fraser family home. Jeremiah Alexander Ian Fraser MacKenzie - Roger and Brianna's son, born in 18th century colonial North Carolina, who like his parents, granny Claire and sister Amanda, can time travel. Fergus Claudel Fraser - Printer, one-time French pickpocket and spy. Jamie and Claire's adopted son. First appears in ''Dragonfly in Amber''. Married to Marsali and father to Germaine, Joan, Félicite, and Henri-Christian. Marsali Fraser - Laoghaire's daughter, Jamie's stepdaughter and daughter-in-law, and Claire's daughter-in-law. First appears in Voyager. Married to Fergus and mother to Germain, Joan, Félicité, and Henri-Christian. Henri-Christian Fraser - Fergus and Marsali's youngest son, a little person. Janet "Jenny" Fraser Murray - The one time Lady of Lallybroch, 18th century, married to Ian Murray Sr. Older sister of James Fraser and mother of Jamie, Maggie, Katherine, Michael, Janet, and Ian. Denys Randall-Isaacs - The son of Alex Randall, putative son of Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall, and ancestor of Frank Randall, Claire Fraser's 20th century husband. Perseverance "Percy" Wainwright Beauchamp - English spy married into a French noble family. One-time lover (and later, stepbrother) of Lord John Grey. Dr. Denzell Hunter - Quaker physician serving in the Revolutionary American Army. Rachel Hunter - Quaker nurse assisting her brother serving in the Revolutionary American Army. Love interest of Young Ian Murray. Rob Cameron - Colleague of Brianna's at the

North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board (1943–1990) was founded to design, construct and manage hydroelectricity projects in the Highlands of Scotland. It is regarded as one of the major achievements of Scottish politician Thomas Johnston, w ...

References

External links

* * {{Diana Gabaldon 2014 American novels 2014 fantasy novels Outlander (franchise) Hispanic and Latino American novels Novels about time travel Novels set in Scotland Novels set in the 1770s Novels set in the 18th century Novels set in Georgia (U.S. state) Novels set in North Carolina Novels set in the American colonial era Delacorte Press books