Above you can hear the first introduction I had to the story of Culloden, as an undergraduate, from the CD Celtic Legacy (1995). This song stayed in my head constantly the first time I read the battle accounts in Dragonfly in Amber. I did not learn about it as a History minor.
In the last third of Dragonfly in Amber, Claire's specific knowledge of Culloden comes to light as she accompanies Jamie to war. It is, perhaps, a postcolonial moment when Jamie asks what details she remembers of the uprising, and she can't remember any. Her impressions of the devastation derive from a visit to the Culloden battlefield and memorial rather than from history--and she was married to a historian. Her memory certainly couldn't have been perfect, for narrative's sake, but the lack of information becomes a focus, and a focus of implied criticism.
Searching her memory, Claire "could just recall the two-page section that was all the author had seen fit to devote to the second Jacobite Rising, known to historians as 'the '45.' And within that two-page section, the single paragraph dealing with the battle we were about to fight." (603-604)
She remembers the number of casualties, but "only thirty men" dead doesn't seem as small a number as historical accounts suggest, given that that was the exact number of Jamie's men. And yet Claire tentatively observes:
"Taken all in all," I said, feeling faintly apologetic, "I'm afraid it was really rather. . . unimportant, historically speaking."The beauty of this account is in the contrast between history as it is written and the event as it is experienced--this difference calls attention to the accuracy of the account, and--perhaps for the first time (in this context)--to Claire's Englishness. "Sassenach," used by Jamie as a term of endearment, registers more literally here. Claire has read the "winner's" accounts.* And the scarcity of accounts and limited details provided, as compared to the enormity of the event and its catastrophic consequences for the Highlanders, as well as the cruelty they suffered, serve to indict the English. And even compared to the fictional events, this is a powerful gesture, because suddenly the reader becomes aware of the reality of how history is written rather than simply following the actions of fictional Scotsmen (or Englishmen--like Jack Randall). And that might be about as postcolonial a gesture as we get in the Outlander books--at least, with reference to Scotland.
Jamie blew out his breath through pursed lips, and looked down at me rather bleakly.
"Unimportant. Aye, well."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Not your fault, Sassenach."
But I couldn't help feeling that it was, somehow. (604)
*Here's an Anglocentric account.
3 comments:
Can I tell you how much I love that song. I had it on a mix tape I listened to over and over when I was traveling alone around Ireland. Though I think I'd read Dragonfly in Amber before I heard the song for the first time.
My sister made a trip to Culloden Field in large part because of the novels. I keep telling her she needs to come read your blog posts, but I don't know if she has.
It is an awesome song. And wow. I have wondered whether visiting Culloden Field is as moving an experience as the novels and author suggest. Scottish history is very new to me, which I think is what struck me about these moments in the narrative. My undergrads when I was teaching had no inkling about Irish history, and more people integrate Ireland into history courses than Scotland, which is simply lumped in with England. I think I'm shocked in a way to find as I read more that Scotland is lumped in with England only because England's subjugation was so complete.
Thanks for recommending the blog to your sister! Has she read all of the books? And thanks for the support and comments, as always. I find myself getting a bit discouraged, and appreciate the comments so much! I'm having a hard time getting started blogging Voyager, though I am enjoying rereading it perhaps more than I did the other two. At least I have a few more Dragonfly posts lined up!
Very true. I did take a one semester History of Ireland course as an undergrad. It was good. Then of course I absorbed a lot of history while studying Irish lit for my MA.
Scottish history is quite fascinating but I've only really encountered it in fiction. I really do like historical fiction better than most history books. If you're interested in that kind of thing, Dorothy Dunnet's Lymond Chronicles are really good historical fiction set in Renaissance Scotland (and elsewhere in Europe too, the hero is quite an adventurer.) I learned so much through them and have read that she was a meticulous researcher so I trust her to get the details right.
It was fascinating to learn how the Scots were absorbed by the British and to learn that there still is a lot of resentment and a separatist movement. Do you know the Proclaimers song, Cap in Hand? Quite distinctive separatist sentiment.
My sister's visit to Culloden was in winter and they didn't get there till just around sunset, so it was sort of a quick thing. But she did say it was very moving.
I think you may get me to re-read the series with these posts. When I'm done with the series I'm currently reading. (Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle.)
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