The netpaper about Elftowners, by Elftowners, for Elftowners.
Dragonfly in Amber
written by [Blaithin]
Author: Diana Gabaldon
© 1992
Publisher: Seal Books
Summary
Picture the vast, untamed highlands of northern Scotland, all brackish forest and sweeping moorlands. Now picture the pristine and gilded court of Louis XV in Paris. The two are as far apart as 20th century England and 18th century England. The marvels of technology compared to the wonders of history and how cultures have evolved over time. To base a novel in all four scenarios and still manage to intertwine the readers with the plot is a monstrous task, a task which Diana Gabaldon tackles with great enthusiasm.
Dragonfly in Amber picks up twenty years after Outlander, the first book in the series, leaves off. Claire Randall Fraser has been back in the twentieth century for just over twenty years and throughout the decades, has kept her secret close to her heart. After arriving in her own time from the sixteenth century, Claire was faced with the fact that her twentieth century husband, Frank Randall, didn’t believe her story. She raised her daughter, Brianna Randall, and lived out her life until Frank’s death before deciding that it was time to reveal the truth. Traveling back to her native England from America, Claire hires a historian, Roger Wakefield, to research the Battle of Culloden and gather information on survivors from Lallybroch. While taking part on this research, Claire finds out a bit of information that wipes all plans of telling Brianna the truth from her mind. In a moment of weakness, Claire begins to allow the story to unfold.
She briefly explains how she had stepped through the stones and found herself in sixteenth century England. After quickly recapping events portrayed in Outlander, Claire moves on to describe how her and James Fraser, Red Jamie, had traveled to Paris. Here they dipped their toes into conspiracy, intrigue and espionage in an attempt to prevent the ensuing Battle of Culloden. Jamie befriends Charles Stuart and the Bonnie Prince soon confides in the Scottish rogue. As Claire and Jamie gather information, they meet many people along they way, some playing famous - and infamous - roles in history, some, more subtle pieces. From the gossip ridden court of King Louis XV, they gleam the information needed regarding Charles Stuarts funds, or lack thereof. With no surplus of money and no banks, French, Italian, or otherwise, willing to loan the exiled prince a sufficient amount, Claire and Jaime feel they have completed their task. No money means to way for Prince Charles to fund a revolution, no revolution means no Battle of Culloden. The rebel pair are now free to go back to Lallybroch and live with their family. Unknown to them are the facts that still lead to the rising in ’45.
After a brief period of peace, Claire and Jamie are once again immersed in jacobite politics. Now in a race to ensure the success of the Bonnie Prince’s campaign, they find themselves facing challenges only previously dreamt about in nightmares. Events soon spiral out of their control and it becomes clear Culloden will still take place. In a desperate plea to save Claire as well as the unborn child she is carrying, Jamie sends her back through the stones. Here she lived for twenty years, all the time believing that her beloved Red Jamie perished in Culloden along with the hundreds of others. With the help of Roger Wakefield, Claire Randall Fraser was able to find out that Jamie didn’t die in Culloden but lived on for many more years. After having told Brianna all that she can, it is now up for the daughter of James and Claire Fraser to come to terms with the knowledge. In the mean time, Claire is bound and determined to return to the sixteenth century and Jamie. She travels back through the stones and the scene is set for the next novel in this captivating series, Voyageur.
Review
Dragonfly in Amber was a thoroughly captivating read. It had little bits of everything to carry a reader forward - the supernatural, historical, politics, romance, something to appeal to a piece in all of us. There were times when the plot became stagnant however. Much of it was focused on happenings in Paris and the events became dry and somewhat repetitive. The jacket of the book proclaims a rich love that survives battles in the feral Scottish Highlands, to find the characters in Paris for so long seems dull in comparison to the original anticipation. The participation in Paris does contribute to a fuller appreciation of the “action” moments in the novel though.
When the scenes are converted back to Scotland it does come in handy to have a good comprehension of the trials faced in France. It lends a more rounded view of events and readers are more confident in their interpretation of happenings and feel that their opinions are more concrete. Gabaldon leads readers through the story with great articulation and skill. At some points it is necessary to slow down and really allow the choice of diction and portrayal of events to sink in. It will definitely pay off in the end.
The novel lives up, and in some instances, surpasses, its prequel and sets an undeniable anticipation for the next installment of the series. The mechanics and knowledge are subtly submerged in the skillful writing and the characters are intriguing and captivating. Dragonfly in Amber is a work of literature that many readers will appreciate, no matter what their preferred genre is. A definite recommended read and a novel, and series, that deserves a position on anyone’s shelf, and not just as a dust collector.
-[
Blaithin]
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