Claire Fraser is the central character, first-person narrator, and driving force of Diana Gabaldon's epic Outlander series. Spanning decades, Outlander combines romance, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and adventure. The series currently includes short stories, spin-off series, graphic novels, and three novellas, in addition to nine novels—the most recent of which is set to release in November 2021. These best-selling novels have also been adapted into a much-loved Starz's television series. As ambitious and enormous as the world of Outlander is, it’s the characters and their relationships that make the story so compelling. At its heart is the love shared between Claire and Jamie, two people who ultimately would not let time or distance—even hundreds of years—keep them apart.
Who is Claire Fraser?
Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser was born in London, England, on October 20, 1918, and baptized Catholic. Her parents, Julia and Henry Beauchamp, died in a car accident when she was only five, leaving her to be raised by her uncle. An archaeologist and historian whose work took him all over the globe, Quentin Lambert Beauchamp had planned to enroll his niece at a boarding school—but Claire refused. Instead, she traveled the world with her uncle, embracing a life of exploration and adventure at a young age.
Claire met her first husband, Frank Randall, when he came to consult her uncle about a philosophical matter. The two were soon married and honeymooned in the Scottish Highlands. When WWII hit Europe, Claire gave up her nomadic explorer's lifestyle and dedicated herself to the war efforts. She became a combat nurse and rarely saw her husband—who was working as an MI6 officer—for the duration of the war.
When the war came to an end, Claire and Frank decided to go back to the Scottish Highlands for a second honeymoon to reconnect after being apart for so long. But when Claire visits an ancient stone circle called Craigh na Dun, something very strange happens—suddenly, she finds herself traveling back in time.
How is Claire Fraser described in the books?
Claire is five foot six inches tall with curly light brown hair, golden-brown eyes, and fair skin. Her hair is one of her defining features, and it's often described as wild and difficult to hold back—much like her headstrong character. Claire's unusual upbringing makes her much more independent than most women of her era, and upon her arrival in the 18th century, she stands out for her toughness and outspoken nature. As a nurse, Claire is able to take charge and stay calm in stressful situations. Also stubborn, she often questions orders from others that she doesn't agree with or understand.
Claire Fraser’s Family & Friends
While Claire is the main character of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novels, her family and friends drive her actions and her decisions. To understand Claire, you have to understand the people she loves. Here are some of the characters who factor the most into Claire's story throughout the series.
Frank Randall
Frank Randall is Claire's first husband, whom she leaves behind when she travels back to 18th-century Scotland. By the time she returns, Claire is married to another man and pregnant with his child. Claire tries to tell Frank that she's in love with her new husband, Jamie, but Frank assumes that she's gone mad. He decides to stay married to Claire and raise her daughter, Brianna, as his own. Their relationship, however, never fully recovers. Over the 20 years they spend together, Claire repeatedly suspects Frank of having affairs with other women. After a fight in which he threatens to leave Claire and take Brianna with him, Frank dies in a car accident.
Jamie Fraser
Jamie is Claire's second husband, whom she meets after unexpectedly time-traveling from 1946 to 1743. Claire and Jamie arrange to get married to protect her from the grasp of Captain Randall. While at first the marriage seems to be one of convenience, Claire and Jamie soon fall in love. Thus begins an epic romance that spans across multiple novels, short stories, and novellas.
Lord John Grey
Although Jamie Fraser is the love of Claire's life, she does get married for a third time. Lord John Grey and Claire are bonded by their intense love for Jamie. But when Jamie's ship sinks at sea, both John and Claire believe Jamie is dead and mourn his loss. Claire is at risk of being arrested for espionage, and in order to protect her, John insists that they marry.
Major Moments for Claire in the Outlander Series
The novel that launched the series, Outlander takes Claire back to 18th-century Scotland for the first time. On her time-traveling adventure, she meets Jamie. They marry each other in an attempt to save her from the clutches of Captain Randall, and fall deeply in love. Claire is later arrested under suspicion of being a witch, but thankfully, Jamie is able to rescue her. Jamie then takes Claire with him to his family estate, Lallybroch. Before long, Jamie is arrested, and now it is Claire's turn to rescue him. Together they flee to France, where Claire helps him recover from his traumatic experience in prison.
This novel starts with Claire and Jamie living in Paris, where Claire is attempting to change the course of history by interfering in Charles Stuart's plans. Claire is also working as a healer at L'Hôpital des Anges. After Claire experiences a life-threatening miscarriage, both she and Jamie return to Lallybroch in Scotland. Claire's attempts to stop the rebellion in Paris are unsuccessful, and Jamie is pulled back into the fight. Given the tumultuous state of Scotland, and Jamie’s uncertainty about whether he will live past these battles, both Claire and Jamie decide that Claire should return to her own time—for not only her own safety but also the survival of their unborn child.
At the beginning of Voyager, it's the year 1968, and Claire has just discovered that her beloved Jamie might not have died in battle after all. Claire finds herself torn between the life she's built for herself in her present time over the past 20 years (especially her daughter, Brianna) and the love she left behind in the 18th century. Ultimately, she decides to return back to the 18th century to find Jamie. When she finds him, Jamie is working at a printing shop and smuggling. Together, Jamie and Claire journey to the West Indies to save Jamie’s nephew, Ian. Ultimately, they wind up shipwrecked in the American colony of Georgia.
In Drums of Autumn, Jamie and Claire are starting life over together in the American colonies. With Fergus, Marsali, and Ian, Jamie and Claire travel to Charleston, Wilmington, and finally the North Carolina foothills. Brianna arrives from the 20th century to find her mother, and during her journey, she is sexually assaulted. When she finds Claire, Brianna is pregnant and unsure of whether the father is her partner, Roger MacKenzie, or the man who attacked her. Roger eventually shows up in North Carolina and vows to raise Brianna's child (Claire's grandchild) as his own, no matter the actual parentage.
Claire and Jamie have built a home for themselves in North Carolina called Fraser’s Ridge, and at the beginning of The Fiery Cross, they welcome Brianna and Roger to join them. Brianna gives birth to a son, Jeremiah, and Roger and Brianna are married. Unrest soon threatens the Fraser family's domestic comfort: the American Revolution is fast approaching. Claire, knowing the outcome of the Revolutionary War, is able to advise Jamie about how to move forward with the rebellion. At the novel's end, the Ridge again welcomes new tenants: Thomas Christie, who was imprisoned with Jamie at Ardsmuir, and his two children.
The turmoil of the American Revolution comes to a head in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. While Jamie is away, a time traveler by the name of Wendigo Donner captures Claire, and over the next several days, he and his men assault and torture her. At last, Jamie comes to her rescue. Over the course of this novel, Claire also becomes deathly ill with dysentery and, to keep the fever down, is forced to shave off her glorious hair. Later, Donner learns a secret to traveling through time, and turns up at Fraser’s Ridge demanding gemstones. When he fails to secure the magical stones, he sets the house on fire, killing himself and his companions. With their home in North Carolina destroyed, Jamie and Claire decide to return to Scotland.
When they arrive at Lallybroch, Jamie discovers his brother-in-law dying of consumption and, despite her medical knowledge and attentive care, Claire cannot save him. Jamie and Claire become separated for a long period of time in this novel, and when Jamie becomes lost at sea, Claire and Lord John Grey—both now back in America—believe that Jamie has died and mourn his death. After Claire is arrested on suspicion of spying, John convinces Claire to marry him so he can protect her. One night, Claire and John sleep together; afterwards, they both acknowledge: they only had sex as a way to be closer to Jamie. But Jamie isn't dead, and he eventually shows up to find his best friend and the love of his life are married. Jamie thanks Lord John for taking care of his wife while he was away, and John admits to him that they slept together.
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is set against the backdrop of true historical events: the British evacuation of Philadelphia and the ensuing Battle of Monmouth. After Claire is shot at Monmouth, Jamie resigns from the Continental Army so that he can remain by her side. The two spend time in Savannah together and later return to Fraser’s Ridge. While Jamie is rebuilding their home, Claire encounters a man who had sexually assaulted her years earlier. Jamie leaves the Ridge to track down the man. Meanwhile, Brianna, Roger, and their children return to Fraser's Ridge.
Claire Fraser: Books vs. Show
If you've watched the Outlander television series but haven't yet listened to the novels, there might be a few things about the Claire of the books that surprise you. On the Starz's show, Claire is played by Caitriona Balfe. The novels span decades, so casting an actress who could play both young Claire and older Claire was challenging—Balfe is older than Claire is at the beginning of the series, but younger than she is by the end. Later seasons of the show have had to age her up considerably. Overall, Catriona Balfe has the look of Claire, with dark hair and fair skin. But there's one noticeable difference: Throughout the novels, Claire's eyes are described as golden brown, while the Claire of the television series has strikingly blue eyes.
Fans of the books have also noted that Claire's personality in the show is different from the Claire they know from the novels. For one, many fans have commented on Claire's trademark sense of humor and how it hasn't quite translated in the series. Other fans who saw the show first and then went back to listen to the audiobooks noted that the Claire in the novels seems far meeker than the bold and brave Claire they know and love from the Starz's series. Yet, as fans of the novels point out, Claire becomes braver and more self-assured over the course of the book series, and as you get to know her better, more of her courage shines through.
As the first-person narrator of the Outlander books (voiced by Davina Porter in the audio versions of all nine novels), Claire becomes our guide from the 20th century to the 18th century and back again. If you love Outlander, you have to love Claire, and hopefully this guide gives you a little more insight into her amazing character.
