There’s enough in Edinburgh to keep the average history buff entertained for weeks on end, but for today, keep reading for the abridged version of my time in this fantastic city.
On Holiday in Edinburgh
5 Defining Moments for Claire: Season Three
Over the course of the third season of Outlander our heroine goes through more than one person should ever have to endure. But through it all, we see Claire’s aspirational journey from a young, grieving widow to an accomplished surgeon and mother. Keep reading for my list of Top 5 Defining Moments for Claire Randall-Fraser in season three.
The Truth Behind The Battle of Culloden
The romanticized, version of the Jacobite conflict which spanned 50+ years of Scottish history, tends to oversimplify things, and as the story has been told and retold down through the generations, opinions and third-hand accounts have now been cemented in many people’s minds as fact. The Battle of Culloden is a great example of a tall tale growing taller. So, let’s dive a little deeper into what we actually know about the Battle of Culloden and the events surrounding it.
Outlander Book Club – “A Whiff of Brimstone”
This week I'm discussing Part 4 of Outlander: "A Whiff of Brimstone" where the ever-growing plot thickens. The Duke of Sandringham has arrived. Claire is still avoiding a decision between Frank and Jamie. Dougal has done something stupid...again, and Geillis is busy being Geillis, but do you smell that? I think someone decided to throw gasoline on the fire... Buckle up, Buttercups. It's gonna be a bumpy ride!
Notable Jacobites of Outlander
An avid researcher, and stickler for the facts, Diana Gabaldon is forever dropping historical Easter eggs throughout her stories, and just like Paris, the setting of pre-Culloden Scotland is blanketed with historical figures. From Jamie’s grandfather, Lord Simon Fraser of Lovat, to Prince Charlie’s advisors, George Murray and John O’Sullivan, key players of the 1745 Jacobite Rising make an appearance throughout Season 2 and Dragonfly in Amber.
Stockings and Waistcoats and Corsets, Oh My!
The fashion industry was at its zenith in the 18th century -- especially in Paris, France, and it was not uncommon for the newest fashion periodicals to circulate at a rate of every ten days! This meant that as soon as something was “in style” it was almost as quickly “out of style” creating a revolving door of the newest styles, materials, and accessories.
Parisian Inspiration: The Real Cast of Paris
It’s hard not to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of Jamie and Claire’s new life in Paris. They have gorgeous clothes, a luxurious house, and new friends and enemies with significant power in the upper echelon of Parisian society. Many of these new acquaintances are based upon or inspired by real historical figures, and in this post, I’m going to break down who some of these characters really were!
A Little Bit of Lallybroch
For fans of Outlander, the phrase “Take me home to Lallybroch” has been branded on our hearts and in our minds for all time. But when Outlander was picked up by Starz in 2013, the film location chosen by the producers left many fans scratching their heads. Could they make this stunning creation into Jamie Fraser’s beloved childhood home? Short answer, yes.
Finding Fraser’s Ridge
When Jamie Fraser first laid eyes on the area that would later become Fraser’s Ridge in Drums of Autumn, he fell in love, and after visiting the area of North Carolina that inspired Diana Gabaldon, I could easily see why.
The Sassenach Files 