Outlander Book Club: Written in My Own Heart’s Blood Chapter 54 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Claire and Jamie reaching Coryell’s Ferry. This is where Washington and co. are. Ian and Rollo are also there, ready for their part in the war. Whhile Jamie and Ian head off in search for accommodation, Claire heads to the kichens. She runs into the Marquis de la Fayette, who calls himself a turnip when he bumps into her.
Of course, Claire is excited to meet someone from real history. I think of Daveed Diggs when I think of La Fayette now, but he did play a major role in the Revolutionary War and it was his role in this that led to him helping in the fight for the French Revolution.
Back to the story, though. Claire would like to dine with him, so off they go for that. That’s when she ends up sitting with Washington, Anthony Wayne, Dan Morgan, General Lee, and Nathaniel Greene. Could you imagine being surrounded by all these men you’ve only ever read about?
Washington wants to know where Jamie is, and he turns up just at that point.
Throughout the chapter, Claire and Jamie are also getting reacquainted with each other. This leads to Claire wondering what role in life Jamie could have had. Jamie just thinks that his life has been “worth it.” I love that he is such a practical man. There’s no point in thinking of what could have been. He’s a realist in this nature.
Throughout the dinner, Claire is obsessed with teeth. She thinks about how bad Washington’s are. I do find this as a bit stereotypical of British people. A lot of Americans are heavily focused on teeth and comment all the time about how bad British dentistry is. I get a sense that this is what this is all about, but the opposite way.
Claire is thinking from a 20th-century point of view of dental care. She’s obsessed with seeing the flaws in the dental care of the past. It’s not the first time this has happened. She did the same with Flora MacDonald, too. It is something I’m glad the show hasn’t really focused too much on.
Finally, Jamie tells Claire that he doesn’t really like General Lee. Claire notes that Lee was known to be jealous of Washington, and it looks like that comes across now. If it was written in history a lot, of course it was going to be visible.