Is ‘Soul of a Rebel’ in the ‘Outlander’ Book Series? Frank’s Twist Explained
Spoiler Alert
What To Know
- Outlander‘s final season introduced Frank’s book Soul of a Rebel in the premiere episode, but is this a plot from Diana Gabaldon’s books?
- We take a look at the implications this piece of literature has on Jamie and Claire’s unfolding story.
Outlander‘s final season is here, and while the Faith cliffhanger at the end of Season 7 may have set up a mystery for Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) to unravel for Season 8, it was Frank’s (Tobias Menzies) book that threw a real wrench in their path. Fair warning that there are spoilers for the Outlander Season 8 premiere ahead!
In the appropriately titled “Soul of a Rebel” episode, Claire and Jamie return to Fraser’s Ridge only to reunite with their daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and her family, who have returned to the past from the future. Upon their return to the 18th-century, Bree and her husband Roger (Richard Rankin) bring some books back, among which is Frank Randall’s posthumously-published book, Soul of a Rebel.
The book, which chronicles “the Scottish roots of the American Revolution,” happens to include Jamie’s name more than once, raising alarm bells in his and Claire’s minds. While Brianna didn’t deliver the book with that knowledge, Jamie informs Claire that Frank indicates he is likely to die in a battle set a year into their future.
Starz
But can the couple believe in what Frank wrote? And better yet, was this plot device present in the books upon which Outlander, the TV show, is inspired? While Frank was a lauded historian and professor, would he have been petty enough to make up a falsehood about Jamie’s fate in hopes of sabotaging Claire’s future with him?
While this doesn’t seem totally in character for the Frank fans know from the show, it is an element at play in Gabaldon’s book, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, where Soul of a Rebel exists as a piece of literature. Although we won’t get into book spoilers here, it is important to acknowledge Jamie’s questioning of Frank’s honesty to Claire and her own complicated feelings surrounding her late first husband.
And expect more of Frank’s presence in the series as Season 8 continues to unfold, as showrunner Matthew B. Roberts told TV Insider, “We had hoped to get Tobias physically, but he was very busy, and his schedule was full, but he graciously was able to do some voice work for us.”
Let us know what you think of Frank’s book inclusion in the comments section, and stay tuned to see how the story unfolds as Season 8 of Outlander continues on Starz.
Outlander, Season 8, Fridays, 8/7c, Starz
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