Now, if you don’t want to know _anything_ about this book before reading it–stop right here. {g} This is the original catalog-copy for THE SCOTTISH PRISONER; the general description of the book that I wrote for use by editors (who write the flap-copy and back-cover copy), agents (who write descriptions for their own catalogs for use at international book-fairs), and publishers (who write brief descriptions of new books for the catalogs their sales reps use when describing new books to their accounts). This is the basic description of the book, on which all those things are based. So, for those of you who want to know just what SCOTTISH PRISONER is…read on!
There are only two compensations to Jamie Fraser’s life as a paroled Jacobite prisoner-of-war in the remote Lake District: he’s not cutting sugar cane in the West Indies, and he has access to William, his illegitimate (and very secret) son, otherwise known as the ninth Earl of Ellesmere. His quiet life comes suddenly apart with the appearance of Tobias Quinn, an Irishman and an erstwhile comrade from the Rising.
Some Jacobites were killed; others, like Jamie, imprisoned or transported. Others escaped. And many of them didn’t give up. Quinn still burns with passion for the Stuart Cause, and he has a Plan. A singularly dangerous plan, involving Jamie Fraser and an ancient relic of Irish kingship—the sacred cup of the Druid King.
Jamie has had enough of politics, enough of war—and more than enough of the Stuarts. He’s having none of it.
*********
In London, Lord John Grey has brought home from Quebec a packet of papers that might as well have come equipped with a fuse, so explosive are their contents. Material collected by a recently deceased friend, the papers document a damning case of corruption and murder against a British officer, Major Gerald Siverly. For the sake of his friend, and his own honor as a soldier, John is determined to bring Siverly to justice.
John’s brother Hal, the Duke of Pardloe, takes this cause as his own, and enlists the help of his wife, Minnie, a retired spy in her own right. The Greys show Minnie a mysterious document from the dangerous docket—what appear to be verses, written in a language they don’t recognize. Minnie does recognize the language. It’s Erse, she tells the brothers. The language spoken by Irishmen and Scottish Highlanders.
Erse. The word gave Grey a very odd sensation. Erse was what folk spoke in the Scottish Highlands. It sounded like no other language he’d ever heard—and barbarous as it was, he was surprised to learn that it existed in a written form.
Hal was looking at him speculatively.
“You must have heard it fairly often, at Ardsmuir?”
“Heard it, yes. Almost all the prisoners spoke it.” Grey had been governor of Ardsmuir prison for a brief period; as much exile as appointment, in the wake of a near-scandal. He disliked thinking about that period of his life, for assorted reasons.
“Did Fraser speak it?”
Oh, God, Grey thought. Not that. Anything but that.
“Yes,” he said, though. He had now and then overheard James Fraser speaking in his native tongue to the other prisoners, the words mysterious and flowing.
“When did you see him last?”
“Not since last spring.” Grey spoke briefly, his voice careful.
Not careful enough; Hal came round in front of him, examining him at close range, as though he might be an unusual sort of Chinese jug.
“He is at Helwater, is he not? Will you go and ask him about Siverly?” Hal said mildly.
“No.”
“No?”
“I would not piss on him, was he burning in the flames of hell,” Grey said politely.
One of Hal’s brows flicked upward, but only momentarily.
“Just so,” he said dryly. “The question, though, is whether Fraser might be inclined to perform a similar service for you.”
Grey placed his cup carefully in the center of the desk.
“Only if he thought I might drown,” he said, and went out.
But needs must when the devil drives—and Lord John and Jamie are shortly unwilling companions on the road to Ireland, a country whose dark castles hold dreadful secrets, and whose bogs hide the bones of the dead.
I had no idea this was set in Ireland I am so excited, I can’t wait to read it
look forward to reading with great interest
I am intreged, a side adventure for the 17th century {Batman and Robin} , is it the same as Gellic or is the equivalant of say, instead of speaking Silian dialect which I do and now no longer is used except in remote villiages in Sicily that one speaks Italian, a launguage that is understood all over the Island, or is the orginal mother tongue a mix of perhaps norse {Viking} and Pict.
Just asking ?
I never read any of your Books until a few years ago a lady that has a book store in Fort Morgan Colorado told me about your books. I was looking for a good love story and one that kept you interesting…and I didn’t put it down for days every minute that I had I read and I didn’t stop until the book was finished sometime with work and all it took weeks and sometime three days. the first one I bought from her and I had bought every book you have wrote every since and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books you well write if I did go back in time I sure would loved to go back to meet Jamie his family and the others that you have wrote about……… I have a hard time reading other books cause of how much I like your stories. there are only a couple of other authors that I read .
Thank you so much for writing the great stories about Jamie and his family and friends;
Velinda Nichols
I agree copletly with you Velinda and I would love to know who those authers are since Ihave the same problem! I would be greatful for just a cople of names!
Best wishes Anna
As I have had the same problem, for Diana’s books, particularly the Outlander series, are so wonderful that I just can’t find many authors as good as her, I might suggest one author I have found almost as good; and, that is Audrey Niffenegger, who wrote, “The Time Traveler’s Wife”. I also found books by Lynn Kurland to be a fun diversion while I wait for Diana’s next installment of the Outlander series to come out.
I too, suffer from the same dilema…..I cannot find any books that compare to the Outlander series! However, The Bronze Horseman trilogy by Paullina Simons comes 90% close to Outlander.
Is the Bronze Horseman a series of time travel? I am a new reader since I retired and the first book I read was Outlander, a gift from my daughter. I didn’t realize at the time it was a series with several books to follow. How exciting was that to find out!!! Because I am still reading the 4th, Drums of Autumn, and because I have purchased all of them, I just keep reading….not having to wait until the next was written. I cannot believe I had that first book for so long and didn’t turn the first page until last month. Now I am hooked in Jamie and Claire world.
Make sure you go to Lynn Kurlands website and get a copy of the family tree and time line so you can read the books in order, it’s more fun that way also there are 2 different families that eventually intersect so all of my Kurland books are numbered inside the front cover and then have an A or B after the number so I can keep them in order while reading or lending out. There are MANY so this works for me. Really a very good series. Lighter and not all the history as Outlander series but characters and lives you don’t mind immersing yourself into.
Anna…try Sarah Donati – Into the Wilderness series (6 books)…she writes in a style like Diana…in fact I picked up her first book because Diana had made a comment that was on the front page of her book…I am just reading the series again. A love story of Nathaniel and Elizabeth…NY frontier…late 1700′s – early 1800′s…excellent.
Have to agree with Into the Wilderness. Read the series twice. Fantastic books.
OK. Just bought the whole Sarah Donati series. Hopefully, that will be my “fix” till the new book is out. I am currently rereading, again, Jamie and Claire’s story and have ordered The Scottish Prisoner…Yes, I’ve got it bad.
I also came to Diana’s books through Sarah’s (she also is Rosina Lippi for her more modern stuff.) There was a Diana blurb on the front of Sarah Donati’s book, and I was looking for something to read next. Outlander? I said, that sounds interesting. And 10+ years, many wonderful books and dozens of referrals to friends and family later, I am ever so glad that I did.
Yes Sara Donati’s Into the Wilderness is as good as Outlander. In fact in one of the 6 books she makes a reference to Claire. Excellent reading.
I have a question about Sarah Donati’s series: is it recommended to read the original last of the Mohicans first? I see it is described as a sequel to that book; I have only ever seen the movie (which is fantastic!) As an avid Outlander fan, I too anxiously await the latest installment and love hearing anything else that might be similar to Gabaldon and keep me somewhat satisfied until the next release. Been considering Sarah Donati for awhile so I’m glad for the recommendation.
I know the feeling. I actually convinced a friend who isn’t a big reader to get into Outlander. After one day, she was in love, and was saying that it’s going to be hard for other books to compare to it.
A fantasy series that I found recently and loved (I read all 9 books in 2 months or so) is the Rachel Morgan/The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. One of the books actually has a glowing review from Diana on the back, which is what cemented my interest.
If you like diana’s books you should try Sara Donati and her Into The Wilderness series. A very good story.
the wilderness series
It sounds like a cross between a Lord John book and the Outlander series. My bookcases will now be further tightened by your books. I keep 2 copies of your books: the hardcovers that are in the living room bookcases and a trade paperback set for re-reading. And then more re-reading. I have been waiting for a book from you for a while, so now the entire series will be read again before the new book is touched, ever so gently.
I lived in Scotland and am married to a Scotsman. We were hand-fasted there and now, unfortunately, live in the States.
Your books give me my home back and are the old friends that I visit when I need to shut off the world. Their length helps too. I am very limited in what I can and can’t do: but I can almost always read.
Yum…..another delicious tidbit from diana….
These are never tidbits–they are big-bits, and juicy ones at that!
Erse is the word used by Scots for Gailic, specifically Scots Gaelic. Irish don’t call it Gaelic, they call it “Irish”, and Scots refer to it as Erse.
Okay, I wish the book was out tomorrow (today is Monday), because there’s another book I’m looking forward to coming out in November around the same time!!! I fell into reading the John Grey series, and ended up rereading all the Outlander books. Can’t wait to get my hands on this book!!
Oh I can’t wait! I’m having heart palpatations just reading this!! I LOVE your books, I love Jamie and I can’t wait to read this!
I can’t wait to read the newest novel!!!!! So far, it sounds quite intriguing, as do all of your books. Thanks for giving to the world your extrordinary talent. Many blessings!
Cindy
ooh! Can’t wait!! Love Jamie, love Lord John and love his family.
I read Outlander at least 15 years ago. I have re-read it as well as the others in order, every time a new book in the series is published. I love them. I remember the first time I read Outlander, I would catch myself at work thinking, I wonder what Jamie and Claire are doing today?… then my brain would kick in and say… Hello, they are not real!
You know this of course, but you have great power!
My dream since I was about 10 years old (I am almost 49 now) has been to go to Scotland, it calls me. The closest I have come so far is when I am enthralled by your books and the Facebook page for Scottish Dream Tours. The pictures they post help me to see Scotland through Jamie’s eyes.
Some day soon I will make it to Scotland,
Until then,
Thank you so much for introducing me to Jamie and Claire!
June
I, too, share your dream! Scotland “calls me” everyday:) I’m a bit obsessed actually & wear a standing stone pendant around my neck everyday, hoping that it will someday transport me to 1742 so I can find Jamie & Claire! So far, no luck! I’ve attempted to talk my husband into moving their with our 2 young kids, but he’s too worried I will meet a strong Highlander and won’t even entertain the idea..haha! Little does he know, he reminds me so much of Jamie every time I read this amazing series. He’s Irish though…I am a lucky woman!!!
I so love this series, it is my all time favorite read!!!
“Je Suis Prest” to go to Scotland today!!!!
Shelly
oops, typo…1743! Wel,l maybe it was subconscious, if I got their in 1742 I could beat Claire to Jamie!!;)
Can’t wait to get my hands on this new book!! Great Xmas present!!! Thanks Diana for sharing all this lovely stories with us!
I have more of a question. This book is a in between book?? Meaning it’s when Clair returned back to her time and this is the telling of what happened to Jamie?
Dear Lee-Ann–
Yes! You got it. {g} (Also it’s what happened after the events in BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, but focused on _both_ Jamie and Lord John.)
–Diana
…can’t wait! the more twists and turns your stories take, the more there is to savor and enjoy!
Wanting moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooore
I CAN’T WAIT! Sounds amazing. Will you follow it to Melbourne (Australia) some time in the near future after it’s release?
Thank you for writing these books!
Dear Becki–
No, I’m not doing any touring for this book–none of the publishers want to do it (probably largely the thought of Hideous Expense in these days of recession {g}), and frankly, neither do I. I want to stay put and work on WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD!
–Diana
Hi Diana,
I do hope you will be coming back to Australia for the launch WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD!!
I missed seeing you last time thanks to a broken foot the week prior to yout tour and being on cructhes was just too much to drive 3 hrs and then try to get into see you :((
You did sign a book for me though, as a generous neighbour took my copy along with her.
Expect me to be int he front row next visit !
Hi Diana,
I’m glad you’re going to get to stay home for a bit and write and rest–it seems like you’ve been doing a ton of traveling lately. Frankly, I don’t know how you do it! [g]
Is there any chance you’ll be doing a blog-tour for Scottish Prisoner? If so, how does one go about signing up to host you?
Thanks!
~ Lara
Dear Diana,
I’d rather travel from Australia to Arizona and see you at the ‘Poisoned Pen’ if it meant more words from your clever head and warm heart on the page!
We do love you ‘Down Under’ and I am doing my best to zealously ‘push’ your books on to everyone I know!
Just love the sense of humour in your fabulous excerpt!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Kindest regards
Antipodean Janet
Question: When you realized that Outlander was not a “practice” and that you were going to continue the story…was it a plan to create these other avenues of the story lines? I ask because I have really never read anything quite like this series and the fact that its intertwined in other books is intriguing. I apologize ahead if you been asked this question before, redundant questions can be trying.
I can’t wait. I am planning to be at the launch party. Though still have to contact The Poisoned Pen.
I’m thinking we’re finally going to find out why Geillus Duncan Abernathy wanted to find Brianna at the end of Voyager.
I was wondering that as well!
And why Flora McDonald gives Claire a ‘knowing’ look in Breath of Snow and Ashes.
And who the ‘white lady’ was on the moors near ‘Ardsmuir’.
And why ‘she’ was looking for both Jamie and John.
And…..
Antipodean Janet