Marsali writes to Jamie and Claire about their new fortunes in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 79
We start Outlander Book 6, Chapter 79 with a letter. We end with the knowledge that the Revolutionary War has begun.
The letter is important. It’s from Marsali, who shares the news of things that have happened in New Bern. It turns out that Fergus’s paper is now the only one in the area, but how long is that going to last? It’s clear that tensions are rising and people need to make some clear decisions about which side they’re going to be on.
After that, we pick up with where we are in the time period. It’s just after the battle at Lexington. This is it. The Revolutionary War has started. There is no turning back at this point.
The chapter hasn’t been used in the TV series just yet. It could be eventually, though, and I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the adaptation section.
There is certainly some foreshadowing. Fergus and Marsali will need to be careful while they live in New Bern. It’s clear that they won’t get the benefit of the doubt.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 79.
Just the Outlander chapter
We find out that Fergus’s paper is now the only one in New Bern. Marsali writes to share that the only other paper has closed up shop. The owner was physically removed from his house and placed on a boat to England without warning. Fergus ended up gaining all the names and addresses of the people subscribed to the paper so he can gain new customers.
We do get some great news about Fergus in this. He’s in positive spirits, which is something we haven’t seen for a while. However, Marsali is worried about what the future will bring. Something is clear: they need to watch themselves when it comes to the news they print.
After that, Jamie gets correspondence about Lexington. Claire realizes that it’s the Lexington Alarm.
This is a huge point in the start of the Revolutionary War. We know from Brianna that Paul Revere’s ride has happened, and now we have another moment in history. Bree has told Jamie all about it—so has Claire—but seeing it all written down is something different. There is no escaping what’s to come.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
The foreshadowing in this chapter is what’s to come for Fergus and Marsali. Things are looking good right now, but it’s only a matter of time before people will turn on them as well. Jamie notes that Fergus understands the game, but as Claire points out, this isn’t a game.
Fergus and Marsali won’t be at risk of being put on a boat. Instead, their whole family is attacked, and they have no choice but to get out of dodge. It’s no wonder Marsali worries about what’s to come.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
We haven’t seen this chapter used in the TV series just yet. That’s not surprising, though. Marsali and Fergus have only just moved to New Bern with Fergus getting his printshop set up.
There is still time for this chapter. I have a feeling we’ll see something, but not through a letter. The TV show is likely to show us the events and not just tell us. We got to see Marsali and Fergus in Wilmington during Outlander Season 4 without Claire and Jamie being around. There is always the opportunity to show us their time in New Bern too.
Then there’s the Lexington Alarm. I’m not sure if we’ll see this play out, but there will likely be a mention of it. We need mentions of these events from history so we know whereabouts in the time period Claire and Jamie are in. This helps us get ready for the Revolutionary War events.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 79? Let us know in the comments below.
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