
Outlander
Outlander, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Kristin Atherton
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By:
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Diana Gabaldon
About this listen
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The first book in Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander saga, the basis for the Starz original series.
One of the top ten best-loved novels in America, as seen on PBS’s The Great American Read!
Unrivaled storytelling. Unforgettable characters. Rich historical detail. These are the hallmarks of Diana Gabaldon’s work. Her New York Times bestselling Outlander novels have earned the praise of critics and captured the hearts of millions of fans. Here is the story that started it all, introducing two remarkable characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.
Scottish Highlands, 1945. Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.
Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of a world that threatens her life, and may shatter her heart. Marooned amid danger, passion, and violence, Claire learns her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. What begins in compulsion becomes urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives.
©1991 Diana Gabaldon (P)2025 Recorded BooksOutstanding
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That said, I have mixed feelings about Atherton’s narration. It presents an entirely different experience of the story. Her portrayal of Claire, in particular, feels markedly different—less warm and wry, and more dry and blunt. The character’s tone and personality shift considerably in this reading. Additionally, Atherton’s naturally deeper vocal range results in less distinction between characters, especially between Claire and the male voices, which can lead to a kind of tonal flatness.
While this is a competent and serviceable reading, it simply doesn’t carry the same emotional depth or vivid characterisation that made Porter’s version so unforgettable. I do intend to listen to the rest of the series as read by Atherton, but only to acclimate myself to the new style before the release of Book 10. Honestly, though, my excitement for the final instalment has dimmed somewhat, knowing it won’t be brought to life with the same magic that Davina Porter infused into the rest of the series.
New narrator entirely changes the feel of story and characters
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