Drums of Autumn

Outlander, Book 4

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 44 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Diana Gabaldon's fans will be delighted to find Jamie and Claire as spirited and endearing as ever in this fourth installment of this magnificent saga. Romance, history, and time travel blend once again as the couple builds a new life together in the wilderness of pre-Revolutionary America.

Twice Claire has used an ancient stone circle to travel back to the 18th century. The first time she found love with a Scottish warrior but had to return to the 1940s to save their unborn child. The second time, 20 years later, she reunited with her lost love but had to leave behind the daughter that he would never see. Now Brianna, from her 1960s vantage point, has found a disturbing obituary and will risk everything in an attempt to change history.

Davina Porter's narrative talent adds a special vibrance and resonance to Gabaldon's complex, colorful characters.

©1997 Diana Gabaldon (P)1999 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Gabaldon's range is impressive, whether she's evoking the rawness of colonial America, the cozy clutter of a modern Scottish parsonage, the lusts of the body or the yearnings of the spirit. Her legion of fans will love diving into this ocean of romance." ( Publishers Weekly)

Another sterling installment!

Claire Randall is happily living her life alongside her husband Jamie Fraser two hundred years ago - or so Brianna thinks, until she discovers a newspaper clipping from the past. Now she must choose between staying with the man she loves, or risking everything to change the past.

I’ve got to admit that every time I start another book in the Outlander series, I’m expecting the worst. I keep thinking: what more could happen and how could Ms Gabaldon possibly hold my attention through another couple of hundred pages after the thousands I’ve already read? Yet without fail, when I read the last sentence of each novel, I’m left holding my breath, wanting more.

This installment focuses greatly on one of the most interesting issues raised by the series - the question of whether it is possible to change the past, whether doing so is morally correct, what effects changing the past has on the future and whether the fates are truly fated. This issue is of particular importance with the character of Bonnet and it is fascinating and heart-breaking to watch the Frasers reap the consequences of their timeline interferences.

The relationship between mother, daughter and father is heart-warming. Each character is so human and the dynamics between them are so realistic and yet so right for the time period. In a time when women were married and became mothers in their early teens, I particularly enjoyed the freedom and maturity of interaction between Brianna and her mother. Claire is always there for her daughter, but she allows her to experience her own life and reap the consequences of her own actions.

What I found really interesting, is the way in which Ms Gabaldon created a relationship between two characters who never meet - James and Frank. The effect each one has on the other through the characters of Claire, Rodger and Brianna is fascinating to behold.

The historical setting is once again unique, realistic and rustic. Ms Gabaldon’s descriptions of untamed America are sweeping, beautiful, wild and fresh. I’m astounded by the ease with which she can switch settings from Scotland to France, Jamaica to America and can only assume that she has done her research well and travelled too!

This is still one of the best series I’ve ever read!

an engaging listen

I am going through the Outlander series listens. These stories are so full and Rich making you feel like you are there amongst them

Sure to have you coming back for more

There is so much detail in this series that you feel like you are right there with the characters. I love to listen to these books, Ms. Porter reads so well, she has the voice accents perfect, she reads, as I am sure Ms. Gabaldon wanted the characters portrayed. I am entranced when I listen to these stories. It is so nice to listen to these stories on my way home from a stressful job. I am transported to a far away place for an hour a day. The historical work is amazing. Thanks to both of these ladies, the first for the story and the second for bringing it alive!

loved this book

I loved getting lost with Jamie and Claire. This series is amazing. Davina does a great job.

Love this book series

Love this book, love this story & absolutely love the narrator! She's reads it in such a way, I can picture everything going on.

WoW!!! what an amazing series, & in-depth detail.

this is truly an amazing series with beautiful M depth detail from characters to surroundings

I love this book one if my favorites!

such a great story. it keeps your interest from start to finish. The narrator is perfect!

Diana you've done it again!

This is one of my favorites from the Outlander Series, so much happens in Drums Of Autumn! I love this series!

True Love Continues.

Would you consider the audio edition of Drums of Autumn to be better than the print version?

Cannot say, did not even attempt to try the print version. But I would venture to say that the audio version is much better giving life to the charactors. Hearing the accents an tone of each charactor really brings the story to life.

What did you like best about this story?

The start of a new life in the new colonies, and of course the story of Clairs first surgery was tooo funny!

Which character – as performed by Davina Porter – was your favorite?

Claire and Jamie.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Again, the outlander book series because of their length but does wonders for daily exercise as I could not wait to get back to my book.

Narration

Davina Porter is an amazing reader for this series! Her variety of voices for the characters is unbelievable!