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Outlander and the Real Jacobites: Scotland’s Fight for the Stuarts
Outlander has brought the story of the 1745 Jacobite uprising to the popular imagination, but who were the Jacobites, really? Explore this pivotal moment in Scottish history, visiting some of the key locations from Jamie and Claire’s travels. Discover what clan life was really like, read about medicine in the 1700s and find out whether the red coats were really as bad as Jack Randall. Meet Bonnie Prince Charlie and explore how he managed to inspire an uprising from France and then storm England with a force of no more than 5,000 soldiers. Witness the battle of Culloden and what really happened there, before exploring the aftermath of this final attempt for a Stuart restoration.
- GenresHistory
232 pages, Hardcover
Published March 30, 2022
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73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 17, 2022
A highly enjoyable explanation and walkthrough of how the Jacobite Rebellion started and ended. Explained a lot to me about a period I knew little about!
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
June 8, 2022
This is the ideal companion for Outlander enthusiasts and anyone interested in Scottish history. The book is flawlessly intertwined with real-life events and anecdotes from the era as well as the book/TV series. Anyone who appreciates Outlander but hasn’t done any study into the real culture and events that it is based on (or vice versa) will undoubtedly discover something that piques their curiosity.
Finding out the truth behind a narrative is one of the most fascinating elements of history. Even your own nation will astonish you. Being from the English side of the UK, I’m well aware that our own history has been manipulated to give us a certain perspective, and little mention is given of the country’s turbulent moments. The Jacobite Rebellion, and what it was prompted by and led to, was something I didn’t learn much about in school. Outlander and The Real Jacobites: Scotland’s Fight For The Stuarts offered me some much-needed perspective on this interesting piece of history, thanks to Shona Kinsella’s historical book, which builds on the narratives of the Outlander novels and TV series.
I confess that I haven’t seen Outlander or read Diana Gabaldon’s books, but I do appreciate a good history book, and I’m familiar with Kinsella’s writing ability from their fantasy work, so I was curious to see how their non-fiction would work. What we get is a clever overlay that explains several essential aspects from the Outlander series, in which an English lady from the 1940s arrives in Scotland just as the Jacobites prepare to battle for the monarchy.
Kinsella does an excellent job of creating the scene before we get into the major narrative. We learn about the clan organization of the time, the role of women, and the superstitions of the time, as well as getting a feel of how people lived.
Kinsella’s storytelling is fantastic here, and it’s evident that Outlander was paying attention since Kinsella is quite pleased with how things were shown. The political situation was also appealing to me. I had no idea that Jacobite merely meant a King James fan! But what struck me the most was that this entire period is part of the long-running Catholic-Protestant conflict that schoolbooks love to dwell on in English Tudor times, but overlooks the latter half of the story. Another tense and uncertain period has arrived, with forces from all across Europe taking an interest in what was plainly a serious problem at the moment.
Using the novels as a timeline, we are guided through the events that will lead to Bonnie Prince Charlie’s ascension to the English throne, the uprising that begins in Scotland and culminates in Culloden and its aftermath. Fans of intrigue will find this to be a period of intrigue, spies, and battles, with a good mix of exploring some of the flawed personalities within the leadership and also an interesting case of asking what would have happened if the Jacobites had simply decided to stay in Scotland rather than continue southwards to England; Kinsella wonders what the history of the United Kingdom would have been like.
However, we know this will not be the case, and the ending is moving as we witness the final fights, trials, and executions, as well as the Highland Clearances, all of which have left their stamp on history.
Finding out the truth behind a narrative is one of the most fascinating elements of history. Even your own nation will astonish you. Being from the English side of the UK, I’m well aware that our own history has been manipulated to give us a certain perspective, and little mention is given of the country’s turbulent moments. The Jacobite Rebellion, and what it was prompted by and led to, was something I didn’t learn much about in school. Outlander and The Real Jacobites: Scotland’s Fight For The Stuarts offered me some much-needed perspective on this interesting piece of history, thanks to Shona Kinsella’s historical book, which builds on the narratives of the Outlander novels and TV series.
I confess that I haven’t seen Outlander or read Diana Gabaldon’s books, but I do appreciate a good history book, and I’m familiar with Kinsella’s writing ability from their fantasy work, so I was curious to see how their non-fiction would work. What we get is a clever overlay that explains several essential aspects from the Outlander series, in which an English lady from the 1940s arrives in Scotland just as the Jacobites prepare to battle for the monarchy.
Kinsella does an excellent job of creating the scene before we get into the major narrative. We learn about the clan organization of the time, the role of women, and the superstitions of the time, as well as getting a feel of how people lived.
Kinsella’s storytelling is fantastic here, and it’s evident that Outlander was paying attention since Kinsella is quite pleased with how things were shown. The political situation was also appealing to me. I had no idea that Jacobite merely meant a King James fan! But what struck me the most was that this entire period is part of the long-running Catholic-Protestant conflict that schoolbooks love to dwell on in English Tudor times, but overlooks the latter half of the story. Another tense and uncertain period has arrived, with forces from all across Europe taking an interest in what was plainly a serious problem at the moment.
Using the novels as a timeline, we are guided through the events that will lead to Bonnie Prince Charlie’s ascension to the English throne, the uprising that begins in Scotland and culminates in Culloden and its aftermath. Fans of intrigue will find this to be a period of intrigue, spies, and battles, with a good mix of exploring some of the flawed personalities within the leadership and also an interesting case of asking what would have happened if the Jacobites had simply decided to stay in Scotland rather than continue southwards to England; Kinsella wonders what the history of the United Kingdom would have been like.
However, we know this will not be the case, and the ending is moving as we witness the final fights, trials, and executions, as well as the Highland Clearances, all of which have left their stamp on history.
June 27, 2025
As I was growing up, my father, of Scottish background, constantly mentioned "Bonnie Prince Charlie" and the battles between the Highlanders and the rest of Scotland and England. But he never provided much detail so I could not put that history in perspective. This book answered most of my questions. The presentation is interesting, as the author weaves together episodes from the "Outlander" series on TV with the true history of the Jacobite rebellion. So parts of the book are historical fiction whereas other parts are true nonfiction. Together, they have given me a much better understanding of what was going on in the UK in 1745. And also, I learned about the opposition to the Stuart kings after James III, the heir to the throne, was raised a Catholic and refused to convert. Therefore, I enjoyed the book very much. My main criticism would be the absence of a map; I found myself using my Kindle to read the book while keeping a Google Maps image of Scotland by its side.
This book may not be for everyone, but if one has an interest in Scottish history and the Jacobite rebellion, it is very enlightening.
This book may not be for everyone, but if one has an interest in Scottish history and the Jacobite rebellion, it is very enlightening.
March 23, 2022
This is the perfect companion for fans of Outlander and Scottish history alike. The book is seamlessly interwoven with details and stories of the era in real life and the book/TV series itself. For anyone who enjoys Outlander but hasn't researched the real culture and events upon which it is based (or vice versa) you are sure to find something that will demand your interest.
April 10, 2024
Piqued my interest in the Jacobites and the ensuing history. Made me appreciate Galbadon's research even more than I had previously. Veery interesting.
April 13, 2024
loved this one !!!
January 21, 2024
112 pages read in 2024
An interesting read with many comparisons and analyses that help me with my researches !
An interesting read with many comparisons and analyses that help me with my researches !
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews