Outlander Book Club: Book 2, Chapter 32 breakdown

During Outlander Book 2, Chapter 32, Claire teaches the Scots what to do with potatoes

During Outlander Book 2, Chapter 32, the Scots see a potato for the very first time. It’s up to Claire to help with the cooking.

This is a very short chapter, especially considering the rest of Dragonfly in Amber, but it offers a look at daily life. It’s a chance to show the Highlanders something new, but also about hope for the future. The idea is to make sure they can survive through the drought that’s to come.

With it being so short, it does mean there’s very little in the way of foreshadowing. This is about Claire offering some words of advice, while also settling into life at Lallybroch. She’s the one that suggested potatoes after all. Her own reputation is resting on this, as well as the reputation of Ian Murray, who took the planting of the potatoes seriously.

It wasn’t used much for the show, and this will purely be due to timing. However, potatoes were mentioned briefly. We just didn’t have the awe at the vegetable, which proves to be extremely versatile and quickly becomes a staple part of the diet.

Let’s take a look inside this short chapter, which takes up less than 20 minutes on Audible. Are you ready to dive in?