Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
The basics
Title: Voyager
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Series: Outlander #3
Outlander (1991)
Dragonfly In Amber (1992)
Voyager (1993)
Drums Of Autumn (1996)
The Fiery Cross (2001)
A Breath Of Snow And Ashes (2004)
An Echo In The Bone (2009)
Written In My Own Heart’s Blood (2014)
Book 9 (201-?)
Add it: Goodreads
Goodreads Summary:
Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.
Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.
Read a full summary of Voyager by Diana Gabaldon below. If you can’t remember what happened in Voyager and you need a refresher, then you’re in the right place.
in short
In 1968, Claire discovers that Jamie is alive. Arguably. He of course, died several hundred years ago. The point is, he didn’t die at Culloden as he meant to. Claire leaves Roger and Bree to return to him in Edinburgh in 1765. Jamie’s nephew is kidnapped by Portuguese pirates, and they travel across the Atlantic to the Caribbean to find him. Kidnapping, lost treasure, pirates, runaway slaves and the return of those you once thought dead… you know, the usual.
what happened in Voyager?
- In 1746 The Battle of Culloden is done and Jamie Fraser is dead. Though his nose is broken and his leg is numb and so maybe he’s not quite so dead after all. He and a handful of wounded men find their way to a farmhouse where they stay until discovered by English soldiers. The men are executed one by one and Jamie has made his peace with his fate – but when his turn comes the soldier recognises his name and sends him back to Lallybroch. The soldier, Lord Melton, is the brother of Lord John William Grey, whose life Jamie spared in the previous book.
- In 1753 it’s been seven years of living in a cave and endangering his family, so Jamie decides to have one of his tenants “betray” him to the English and take the reward money. He is arrested and sent to Ardsmuir prison.
- In 1968 Claire is reeling from the news that Jamie did not die at Culloden. She, Roger and Brianna begin researching to try and “find” Jamie. Eventually they find two Highland legends (the story of the Dunbonnet and Leap O’ The Cask.) that might refer to Jamie.
- In 1755 Lord John Grey is posted to oversee Ardsmuir Prison where his nemesis from the Rising, Red Jamie now called Mac Dubh, is prisoner and something of a Chieftain to the other men.
- Jamie and Lord John develop a relationship over regular dinners and chess games. On Jamie’s part this is to help resolve prisoner issues and possibly indulge in intellectual conversation, and on Lord John’s this is not so much to deal with prison issues as it is that he finds himself a little enamoured with Jamie.
- When the majority of the prisoners are transported to America as indentured servants, Lord John exerts his influence to have Jamie indentured on an estate in Helwater, in the Lake District of England.
- The elder daughter at Helwater, Geneva, is to be married to the elderly Earl of Ellesmere. Disgusted at the thought, she blackmails Jamie into taking her virginity before her wedding.
- Nine months later, Jamie’s son is born and Geneva dies in childbirth. The Earl claims the baby, William, to be a bastard, and is shot dead. William is fostered by Geneva’s parents, and Jamie remains at Helwater to be near his son. When their similarities become too pronounced, Jamie accepts a pardon that allows him to return to a “normal” life.
- In 1968, Claire returns to Boston briefly while she decides whether or not to travel back in time to find Jamie. Roger discovers an Edinburgh printer by the name of Alexander Malcolm, and Claire travels through the stones to investigate.
- In 1765, Claire ventures into the print shop and finds Jamie. They have little time to become reacquainted with one another however, before they are off running around Edinburgh in search of Jamie’s foot obsessed friend, Mr Willoughby.
- Ian Murray arrives in search of his son, Young Ian. He is naturally surprised to see Claire. Fergus puts in an appearance; he is also surprised, though beyond pleased, to see Claire. Claire is surprised to see he now possesses a hook where his hand should be, but there will be time enough for explanations later.
- Jamie’s print shop catches fire, and Young Ian is trapped on the second story. Jamie, ever the hero, rescues his nephew. Young Ian admits it was he who is responsible for the fire, it was a result of his trying to conceal Jamie’s latest political printing order.
- Jamie, Claire and Young Ian return to Lallybroch. Laoghaire puts in an appearance and shoots Jamie.
- Young Ian volunteers to collect the family treasure from the Silkie Island but is kidnapped by pirates in the attempt.
- Jamie and Claire procure passage on a ship, The Artemis, with Jarrod’s help.
- Somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the Artemis is set upon by a British Man Of War ship, The Porpoise, begging aid of a surgeon.
- The crew has been ravaged by Typhoid and Claire, naturally, offers her services. While looking over the men, the ship begins speeding once again to its destination, Jamaica.
- One of the sailors on board, Tompkins, knows Jamie to be an outlaw and through the captain it is arranged Jamie will be arrested upon arrival in Jamaica.
- Kidnapped, Claire makes the best of the situation by tending to the injured on board. In time, she meets the ships VIP passenger, Lord Grey, the new Governor of Jamaica.
- Land in sight, Claire jumps overboard into the mangroves somewhere in in Carribbean.
- Dehydrated and almost delirious, Claire is rescued by Doctor Lawrence Stern who takes her to Father Fogden’s house on the hill.
- After Stern gives Claire a brief history of the area, including the mysterious Abandawe cave, drunk Father Fogden mentions a ship that came ashore, the leader of which appeared to have a hook for a hand.
- Claire runs to the beach to find most of the crew of The Artemis unharmed, including Fergus and Marsali, but no Jamie.
- Jamie had made his way onto The Artemis, but hearing Claire was lost at sea, lashes out and is sent overboard himself. When he washes ashore, he hears news that the ship that took Ian, The Bruja, has recently docked.
- Jamie, joined by some soldiers, returns to make The Artemis seaworthy again.
- Fergus and Marsali are married by Father Fogden.
- Jamie and Claire search for Young Ian at a slave market, where Claire is forced to buy a slave as a means to end his humiliation.
- The Artemis is set upon by pirates. In the struggle, Claire suffers a terrible cut along her arm.
- Jamie, disguised as a Frenchman, and Claire attend a ball hosted by the new Governor, Lord John. Claire sees Jamie and John embrace.
- While recovering from the shock of what she’s seen in the Governor’s office, Claire discovers the body of a young woman who has had her throat slit.
- The authorities are called and the manhunt for prime suspect Mr Whilloughby begins. John explains his and Jamie’s history to Claire, including the revelation that he plays father to Jamie’s son, Willy.
- Jamie and Claire take a trip to Rose Hall to speak with Mrs Abernathy and hopefully find Ian.
- It turns out that Mrs Abernathy is actually Geillis Duncan, who escaped being burned as a witch with her lover, Dougal’s, help after giving birth to their son. Geillis also reveals her theory of gemstones being a key element in successfully travelling through time.
- Reverend Campbell explains the Fraser-Lovat prophecy of a returned leader to Scotland. Before much of this can be explain, Mr Whilloughby arrives, accusing the Reverend of being a murderer of women. The Reverend is shot and dies. Claire questions Whilloughby and discovers it was he who altered the authorities to Jamie’s dealings back in Edinburgh.
- Jamie and Claire attend a slave gathering where they summon spirits using the Reverend’s sick sister, Margaret, as a vessel. Claire becomes frightened when she speaks in Brianna’s voice and tells Claire and Jamie that she loves them.
how did it end?
Jamie, Claire, and Lawrence Stern travel to the mysterious cave, Abandawe. Deep inside the cave is a passage through time – Claire can hear it – and Geillis intends on using it. She has Young Ian bound and gagged ready to be sacrificed for her trip to find Brianna and fulfil the prophecy. Claire attacks and kills Geillis with an axe. Our heroes escape on The Artemis, but are wrecked in a storm and wash ashore in Georgia.
extra information
Locations
Culloden, 1746
Lallybroch, 1746 – 1753
Ardsmuir Prison, 1755
Helwater, 1756 – 1758
Edinburgh, 1765
Hispaniola, 1766
Jamaica, 1766
Georgia, 1766
Inverness, 1968
Boston, 1968
PoV Characters
James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser (age 25 – 45)
Roger Jeremiah Wakefield MacKenzie (age 27)
Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Randall Fraser (age 50-51)
Lord John William Grey (age 26 – 37)
Gaidhlig Phrases
Mo caraidh – my friend
A mhic an diabhoil – You son of the Devil!
Bi samhach – be still
Ban-druidh – witch, wise woman, white lady
Mo nighean donn – my brown one
A bhalaich – boy/lad
Mo nighean dubh – my dark haired one
This is a full plot summary of what happened in Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. Check out our recap list for more recaps. If you can’t find what you need, you can request a recap from us!
