OutlanderOutlander
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1945, Claire Randall, a former British army nurse, is on a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands when she touches an ancient standing stone and is thrown back two centuries, to 1743. Taken for a spy and caught among warring clans on the eve of the Jacobite rising, she is forced into a marriage with Jamie Fraser, a young Highland warrior. Torn between the husband she left in the future and the one she has in the past, she has to decide where she belongs.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling novels ever, about 25 million copies, and a PBS Great American Read pick. It blends romance, history and adventure on an epic scale, and its huge, devoted readership is part of why the TV series exists.
You'll love it if you liked
The Thorn Birds
The Pillars of the Earth
Doomsday BookGood to know
It's long and the first of a long series. It includes graphic violence, including sexual violence, which some readers find hard going.
By the numbers
- Readers88 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller93 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #17 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #17 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #68 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #125 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic, Moving
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Quick answers
Is Outlander worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling novels ever, about 25 million copies, and a PBS Great American Read pick. It ranks #125 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 85.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Outlander about?
In 1945, Claire Randall, a former British army nurse, is on a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands when she touches an ancient standing stone and is thrown back two centuries, to 1743. Taken for a spy and caught among warring clans on the eve of the Jacobite rising, she is forced into a marriage with Jamie Fraser, a young Highland warrior. Torn between the husband she left in the future and the one she has in the past, she has to decide where she belongs.
How long does it take to read Outlander?
About 22 hours (882 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Outlander?
If you liked it, try The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett or Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.