Outlander Book Club: Book 1, Chapter 17 breakdown
Connecting to the TV series
This is the chapter that I was thinking of when I thought of the scenes with Hugh. For the most part, much of the conversation outside is the same, especially when it comes to Jamie and Claire talking about their feelings for each other. Claire admits that this isn’t usual.
The conversation with Hugh is slightly different. Up to this point in the show, Horrocks hasn’t been mentioned. It’s Hugh who mentions Horrocks to Jamie, helping to combine a couple of storylines together for the sake of time and speed.
We also see Hugh give Claire a dragonfly in amber as a wedding gift. In the books, he hands Claire a rabbit that he’s killed as was taking home. Hugh married six months earlier, and Jamie passes on his own wedding gift in return. Changing this would have been partially for time and partially for foreshadowing at a later point. The dragonfly in amber does come up in the future, and it’s also used in the show as it marks Jamie losing it on the Culloden battlefield and Claire recognizing it in the museum.
The ending to the chapter isn’t used in the books in full. I think a few of these bedroom chapters are combined in different ways throughout the show allowing to show the bond growing between Claire and Jamie but allowing time for the actual plotline.
The most important element of the chapter was Jamie getting a message to Horrocks. In the show, the most important part was Jamie learning about Horrocks, pushing on with the next part of the story in a hope to clear Jamie’s name.
Next. 25 most romantic moments on Outlander so far. dark
What did you spot during your reread of Outlander Book 1, Chapter 17? What stands out for you now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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