Today is the 265th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden. In honor of that, I thought I’d just post links to the two blogposts I did a couple of years ago, when I was privileged to attend the dedication of the new Visitors Centre at Culloden.
Urram do na mairbh.
Thanks for the poignant reminder, Diana.
Thanks for the reminder – makes one think of their ancestors.
You have brought something so far away in both time and distance, right into our lives… now I see the stone and the word, and get shivers. Thank you… Have a beautiful weekend.
Thank you, Diana. I hope to be able to visit Culloden one day.
Because of your 2 posts about the Visitors Centre, we toured it when we went to Inverness. A remarkable place. We had a guided tour of the battlefield, and now I understand why it was impossible for the Jacobites to win.
We also walked across Roger’s bridge over the Ness and down to the park at the end of the walk. A lovely walk.
Thank you Diana, this is very precious to our family. Although our ancestors were not named Fraser, I was told that there is a stone marked McLean there also. We may never get there ourselves but I hope our children will eventualy make the journey someday to see the marker of there forebears who fought at Culloden
Excuse the lack of decorum, but could you please go with us on our next family vacation and write a few of these wonderful recaps for _my_ posterity. thank you
Dear Penny–
Nothin’ stopping you from doing it, is there? {g}
–Diana
Breaks my heart to think of it. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks so much for the links to the two previous stories. Each was a lot of fun to read.
I’ve vistited a number of battlefields; Gettysburg, Antetum(sp?) and Pearl Harbor. All left me with a great sense of human loss and a question of “did this really need to happen?”. I’m sure I’ll feel the same when we visit Culloden in the fall.
I too have visited these sites many years ago. My Uncle was an avid amateur historian and did find out that I had a several greats grandfather who fought in the Civil War. When I read this entry by Diana it makes me think about how much in common we all have through out the world as people. We all share tragedy, we all share joys and we all share war and its consequences and I find that I am overwhelmed and in awe by the fact that people are willing to die for what they believe in.
Time has not lessened the tragedy, only dyed it deeper in the warp and weft of our cultural history. Thanks for making my ancestors so alive to me through your books.
A friend and I wanted to know if you would consider writing a book about Gellis Duncan. She pops up in so many of the novels that we thought she led an interesting life. I have read all the Jamie/Clair novels and can’t wait for #8. Great job, lady.
Dear Sara–
Thanks! Glad you’ve been enjoying them! {smile}
I don’t know about Geillis. I write about the characters who come up and talk to me. Don’t know if she has more to say to me than she already has, but who knows? {g}
–Diana
Makes one step back and think about all that has happened in the course of human history
I sit with tears for long lost dead, brothers,sons,fathers, streaming down my cheeks. Reading the last few paragraphs of “Colloden” gave me the same visceral reaction as Ms. Gabaldon has described as she experienced the presentation at the visitors centre.
I have never responded to an online blog before, although I have been a faithful reader. Your words move me and remind me that my hunger for my own heritage has been sparked by the world you have created in your books.
Heartfelt thanks.
Dear Erin–
Thank _you_. {smile}
–Diana
I definitely had chills at the end. I was at Culloden in December of 2006. I can’t wait to go back and see the new Centre!
Thank you for sharing!
I have been listening to Culloden’s Harvest and think it is beutiful and haunting. I also listened to Johnny Cope and can hear Roger signing it
Love your books….I just happen to be a “Fraser” whose birthday is April 16th….weird
It is such a privilege to be able to have Diana Gabaldon share her knowledge of Scots history and the 2008 Culloden info with us. The Outlander series has brought Jamie & Claire’s family into our lives with their all-to-human escapades, until it seems we are reliving our own family history …..and thus encourages us to delve into more written history of the times of which we have shared with Jamie & Claire. I’ve been able to research more of my ancestry, which includes both English, Scots & Irish.. Thank you, Diana, for stimulating my interest in history.
Thank you Diana….I was there in 2000 and 2009, and to this day it left me with a deep appreciation for the Highlands and those that fought for freedom there. You can still here the echoes of the battle cries and I will never forget it.
Dear Diana,
I too visited Culloden field and the very interesting Visitor Center two years ago and was deeply moved by the sight of the stones and the surroundings. The rain was pouring down and we were absolutely soaked but after a few minutes we didn’t feel it anymore, it made the experience even more intense… Scotland really is a beautiful country and I thoroughly hope to be able to travel there again soon!
And now there’s another important date coming up: Jamie’s 290th birthday on may 1st – don’t you think he (and your faithful readers) deserves a present? How about a new excerpt from book 8? I’m sure he would appreciate it – and so would I. Thank you very much for your wonderful stories!