Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, the ninth thrilling instalment of the bestselling Outlander series finds Jamie and Claire engulfed by the American War of Independence whilst Brianna and Roger are forced to question the wisdom of their time travelling adventures.
The author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Outlander series returns with the newest novel in the epic tale, and lucky for you we’re giving you everything that you may need to know about this unmissable novel!
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Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
War leaves nobody alone. Neither the past, the present, nor the future offers true safety, and the only refuge is what you can protect: your family, your friends, your home.
Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall were torn apart by the Jacobite Rising in 1746, and it took them twenty years of loss and heartbreak to find each other again. Now it’s 1779, and Claire and Jamie are finally reunited with their daughter, Brianna, her husband, Roger, and their children, and are rebuilding their home on Fraser’s Ridge—a fortress that may shelter them against the winds of war as well as weather.
But tensions in the Colonies are great: Battles rage from New York to Georgia and, even in the mountains of the backcountry, feelings run hot enough to boil Hell’s teakettle. Jamie knows that loyalties among his tenants are split and it won’t be long before the war is on his doorstep.
Brianna and Roger have their own worry: that the dangers that provoked their escape from the twentieth century might catch up to them. Sometimes they question whether risking the perils of the 1700s—among them disease, starvation, and an impending war—was indeed the safer choice for their family.
Not so far away, young William Ransom is coming to terms with the mysteries of his identity, his future, and the family he’s never known. His erstwhile father, Lord John Grey, has reconciliations to make and dangers to meet on his son’s behalf and on his own, and far to the north, Young Ian Murray fights his own battle between past and future, and the two women he’s loved.
Meanwhile, the Revolutionary War creeps ever closer to Fraser’s Ridge. Jamie sharpens his sword, while Claire whets her surgeon’s blade: It is a time for steel.
Claire’s grown daughter Brianna, and her husband, Roger, watch the unfolding of Brianna’s parents’ history — a past that may be sneaking up behind their own family.
“My body is out from my control,” he said softly. “She was the half of my body—the very half of my soul.”
Diana Gabaldon, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
Our Overview
Claire and Jamie were torn apart following the Jacobite Rising in 1743, and it took them twenty years to find each other again. Now the American Revolution seems to be following a similar vein.
Back in 1779, Claire and Jamie are reunited with their daughter Brianna, her husband Roger, and their children on Fraser’s Ridge. At long last, after it seemed impossible, the family is back together.
The carefree scene of familial life won’t last long. Even in the depths of the North Carolina country, the effects of war are being felt. Tensions in the colonies are at an all-time high and local feelings run hot. Jamie knows loyalties among his tenants are worrisome and it shan’t be too long until the war finds itself to the Frasers.
Brianna and Roger have worries of their own. The danger that they fleed in the twentieth century might catch up to them. Sometimes they question whether risking the perils of the 1700s was the safer choice for their family, considering the disease, starvation, and the impending war.
Young William Ransom is still coming to terms with the discovery of his true father’s identity. Lord John Grey also has his own reconciliations to make and plenty of dangers to meet on his son’s behalf – and his own.
All the while the Revolutionary War creeps ever closer to Fraser’s Ridge. Now that the family is back together again, Jamie and Claire have more to worry about and more at stake now than ever.
Our Review
Another doorstop of a book, Gabaldon proves her capabilities in research. It’s obvious to anyone who reads this novel that this series truly is a labour of love. It’s clear Gabaldon has extensively researched colonial life in America, and the realism is what sets this series apart.
We love hearing not only the dramas and horrors unfolding, but also the mundane day-to-day activities that really connect us with the characters. Bee keeping, hunting, collecting berries, politics; it’s all perfect.
For those who love exposition, this novel is the one for you. It’s a little more slow-paced and focused on the day-to-day than the other series, which makes sense considering the finale is just around the corner. We can only assume that the final novel will take us by surprise. To be honest, our excitement is riddled with nerves too! We can’t wait to see what happens to the Fraser family. Gabaldon rarely holds back her punches, so it isn’t against the realms of possibility that the finale might just break our hearts!
Our rating: ★★★★☆
Frequently Asked Questions
What is after Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone?
Here are all the books in the Outlander series in order:
- Outlander (Cross Stitch in UK, NZ, and AUS)
- Dragonfly in Amber
- Voyager
- Drums of Autumn
- The Fiery Cross
- A Breath of Snow and Ashes
- An Echo in the Bone
- Written in My Own Heart’s Blood
- Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone
- [UNTITLED]
As you can see, the last book is still underway with no working title.
How long is Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone?
This installment of the Outlander series is 928 pages long.
What is the meaning of Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone?
Talking to your bees is a very old Celtic custom that made it to the Appalachians. You always tell the bees when someone is born, dies, comes or goes. If you don’t keep them informed, they’ll fly away. No one can ever say that Gabaldon doesn’t do her research!
How old are Jamie and Claire in Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone?
It’s estimated that Jamie just turned 58 and Claire is 62.
What to remember before reading Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone?
With such a long gap between Written in My Own Heart’s Blood and this novel, it’s no surprise some people may be scratching their heads! Lucky for you, we’ve got everything you need to know about Written in My Own Heart’s Blood here!
