Outlander Book Club: An Echo in the Bone Chapter 51 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

We’re back with William, and this time he’s spending time with a brigadier. Of all the names this brigadier has, it’s Fraser. I do find this interesting.

William spends some time comparing his own uniform with the brigadier’s. William’s is bright red while the brigadier’s is faded, making it clear that William hasn’t been in the military all that long. It’s clear there’s a sense of urgency about him. He doesn’t want to wait around for battle. He wants to have the uniform the brigadier has so that he can feel worthy.

I do get a sense of Young Ian here. Remember when Ian just wanted to be a man of worth, and he ended up joining the Mohawk to gain that? I’m sure Ian would wish to go back to before that and tell his younger self to slow down a little. William needs to appreciate what he has right now.

Of course, William doesn’t know what’s to come for him. The conversation between the two men goes to Lord John Grey, and the brigadier seems confused about why William’s hands don’t look the way John’s do. William has to explain that John is his stepfather.

This then leds to William explaining that his birth father in Lord Ellesmere, which could make William seem pretentious. While John is from a high-class family, Lord Ellesmere was much higher up. Now if only William knew that his father was anything but Lord Ellesmere.

At the end of the chapter, Brigadier Fraser tells William that General Howe has had some good things to say right now. However, William hasn’t had a chance to show his talent for command yet. What does that mean for the future? They are promising words, and now William needs to live up to them.