Comments on: Excerpt from "The Custom of the Army" https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/ Author of the Outlander Series Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:45:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.40 By: Bedelia https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1995 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:09:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1995 Dear Diana and Karen,

Thanks so much for clearing that up. Thought Jamie was rolling in sapphires for awhile there (g).

P.S. To Karen, I know there is only one expert (Diana), but I truly learn so much from your insights into The Books that I consider you a VP of Expertise. And I can’t believe you’ve only been reading them for 2 years!

Bedelia

]]> By: Karen Henry https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1987 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:13:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1987 P.S. – to Bedelia: This is why I don’t consider myself an “expert” on this stuff. Just like everybody else, I pick up new little details all the time.

Karen

]]> By: Karen Henry https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1986 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:55:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1986 Diana:

Thanks for the hint/correction about the paperweight. Do I have to add, that was yet another tiny detail I never noticed before? [vbg] But I just looked at VOYAGER and I see the reference now, on p. 759 (“Grey picked up a small silver paperweight….A large sapphire was set in it, winking blue in the candlelight.”)

Very sneaky of you, to slip that one in there. [g] I’m sure the reason I never noticed it was that my attention tends to be focused on Claire during that scene, not on Lord John. But now that I see it, I like it. Looking at the situation from John’s POV, it gives the scene more depth [g] and poignancy than I thought it had.

Karen

]]> By: Diana Gabaldon https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1983 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:06:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1983 Dear Karen and Bedelia–

There’s actually a small error in this piece (I posted it from the original ms.)–what Lord John’s brother has sent him is supposed to be a paperweight with Jamie’s sapphire set in it (which we see in Jamaica, late in VOYAGER). I caught that on a re-read and fixed it in the ms. that went to the editor, but hadn’t thought to change the snippet.

]]> By: Karen Henry https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1975 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:11:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1975 Bedelia:

“Resident expert”? [laughing] I’m flattered…especially since I’d never even heard of these books just two years ago.

Anyway, the reference you’re looking for is in VOYAGER, chapter 10 (“White Witch’s Curse”), p. 135 in the hardcover. Since you asked…. [g]

And just to make things more confusing [g], there are actually two sapphire rings. The one Lord John got from his first lover, Hector (this is the one he gives to Jamie in ABOSAA) and the one that’s mentioned in this excerpt, which is the sapphire Lord John took from Jamie at Ardsmuir.

Hope this helps.

Karen

]]> By: Diana Gabaldon https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1973 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:26:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1973 Dear Bedelia–

John took it from him in Ardsmuir, after he was recaptured following his journey to the silkies’ island.

]]> By: Bedelia https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1970 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:59:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1970 Diana’s busy enough – so I’ll ask another of our resident experts – Karen Henry – if you don’t mind explaining to me – could you explain about the sapphire and Jamie? I know in Ashes he got it from John to help Bree and family go back, but when did he get one back to John, and where did it come from. After so many re-reads, I can’t believe I missed this, so I’d appreciate any light you could shed. TIA

]]> By: Gretchen https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1961 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:53:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1961 What a knack you have for The Cliffhanger! Way to make us all thirsty for the dirt on the Earl!

]]> By: Deb https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1953 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:57:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1953 Diana, you are THE most generous and wonderful author ever! Thank you so much for this excerpt. I must find my way over to Compuserve to see what’s cookin’ there.
All the best to you and yours
Debbie in San Diego

]]> By: Vicki https://dianagabaldon.com/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/comment-page-1/#comment-1949 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:51:00 +0000 http://www.dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/2008/09/excerpt-from-the-custom-of-the-army/#comment-1949 The story of his father’s death… aaahhh! Where is the rest?! : D Thanks for this wonderful snippet! I am excited to read more when it is done!

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