An Echo in the Bone

The 20th-century doctor Claire Fraser is the primary protagonist of the Outlander series and the only character whose perspective is written in first person. Formerly a British WWII combat nurse, Claire accidentally time traveled through the standing stones near Inverness in the 1940s while on holiday with her then husband, Frank Randall. In the 1740s, Claire fell in love with the Highland Laird Jamie Fraser and chose to remain in the 18th Century with him. Assuming Jamie would die in the Battle of Culloden, Claire returned to the 20th century, where she gave birth to their daughter, Brianna Fraser. Claire and Jamie were separated for 20 years until Claire learned Jamie had survived and returned to the 18th century to live with him. Claire and Jamie’s love story is the most important motivation for the events of the entire series. In An Echo in the Bone, Claire is about 60 years old, now a grandmother to Bree and Roger’s and Fergus and Marsali’s children. Claire is intelligent, skillful, beautiful, and strong-willed, with a deep commitment to those she loves. Claire refuses to cover or restrain her long curly hair, symbolizing her freedom of spirit, undaunted femininity, and anachronistic place in the 18th century.