On a moonlit night in 1903, a mysterious young woman flees alone across the Canadian wilderness, one quick step ahead of her pursuers. Mary Boulton is nineteen years old, half mad, and widowed - by her own hand. Tearing through the forest with dogs howling in the distance, she is desperate, her nerves burning, and she is certain of one thing only - that her every move is being traced. Two red-headed brothers, rifles across their backs, lurch close behind her: monstrous figures, identical in every way, with the predatory look of hyenas. She has murdered their brother, and their cold lust for vengeance is unswerving. As the widow scrambles to stay ahead of them, the burden of her existence disintegrates into a battle in which the dangers of her own mind become more menacing than the dangers of the night. Along the way, the steely outlaw encounters a changing cast of misfits and eccentrics. Some, like the recluse known as 'The Ridgerunner', provide a brief respite from her solitude; others, like the Reverend Bonnycastle, offer support only to reveal that they too have their own demons raging inside. As she is plunged further away from civilisation, her path from retribution to redemption slowly unfurls. A startling transformation of the classic western narrative, The Outlander is the haunting tale of one young woman's deliberate journey deep into the wild.
The Outlander
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'A remarkable first novel, full of verve, beautifully written, and with all the panache of a great adventure' Michael Ondaatje 'From the outset, this atmospheric debut has a palpable air of menace ... With the breathless pace of an old-fashioned adventure story, and a supporting cast of mavericks, eccentrics and outcasts, this rich novel is packed full of drama' Daily Mail 'A superb adventure story' Kate Saunders, The Times 'Striking, thoughtful, full of unexpected twists, The Outlander is that rare delight: a novel that is beautifully written yet as gripping as any airport page-turner ... there are echoes of Cormac McCarthy. Hugely enjoyable ... A rattling good yarn' Guardian
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`Striking, thoughtful, full of unexpected twists, The Outlander is...a novel that is beautifully written yet as gripping as any page-turner.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Gabrielle O
Format:Hardcover
It was hard to know what I was getting into when I opened this novel and started reading the first page. A tale of the Wild West? A thriller? An action-packed chase? A murder mystery? The Outlander is a book that's hard to pigeonhole: it's all these things and more. Full of deftly lyrical prose, it's a gripping read. It was also unexpectedly funny in places!
The cover makes this book look a bit like a thriller, or a 'boys-own' style book about adventure. I should note that this book isn't a thriller, although it's gripping and there's a lot of suspense. It's not a particularly gendered book, either, but would be interesting to both male and female readers. There is both action, intrigue and psychological exploration, as well as beautifully written and atmospheric descriptions of landscape. I think the cover mis-represents the book slightly, but then it is always a rather tricky marketing exercise - especially with an unusually varied book like this one where I find it hard to imagine who the 'target market' could possibly be.
There's no 'whodunnit' element to this book, despite the fact that its premise is that the main character is fleeing a murder scene. You find out soon enough exactly how the plot stands, although as with all the best books there are some missing details that emerge to fill in the picture as you read. There's also a lot left to guess at and think about. The novel is based around the idea of a journey: the physical journey undertaken by the main character (Mary Boulton, a widow who's on the run after murdering her husband) is mirrored by an equally important psychological journey as she faces up to her past, tackles her tricky present situation with determination and humour, and gains a new view on the world as she travels. Read more ›
The cover makes this book look a bit like a thriller, or a 'boys-own' style book about adventure. I should note that this book isn't a thriller, although it's gripping and there's a lot of suspense. It's not a particularly gendered book, either, but would be interesting to both male and female readers. There is both action, intrigue and psychological exploration, as well as beautifully written and atmospheric descriptions of landscape. I think the cover mis-represents the book slightly, but then it is always a rather tricky marketing exercise - especially with an unusually varied book like this one where I find it hard to imagine who the 'target market' could possibly be.
There's no 'whodunnit' element to this book, despite the fact that its premise is that the main character is fleeing a murder scene. You find out soon enough exactly how the plot stands, although as with all the best books there are some missing details that emerge to fill in the picture as you read. There's also a lot left to guess at and think about. The novel is based around the idea of a journey: the physical journey undertaken by the main character (Mary Boulton, a widow who's on the run after murdering her husband) is mirrored by an equally important psychological journey as she faces up to her past, tackles her tricky present situation with determination and humour, and gains a new view on the world as she travels. Read more ›
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Martin Belcher
VINE VOICE
Format:Paperback
I really loved the sound of this book when I read the back cover description whilst in my local Waterstones and my curiousity was immediately hooked and I had to buy it.
We follow our main character, Mary Boulton "the widow" who is running away from killing her husband and is being pursued by her two brothers in law through 19th century Canadian wilderness.
The language and prose used are just exceptional conjuring up in your mind with each paragraph the intensity of the situation Mary finds herself in. I found the narrative and pace just addictive and it hooked me all the way through to the climatic ending. We are introduced to many memorable characters along Mary's journey which even now stick in my mind. The story is haunting and emotional, but also exciting and takes you into the mind of Mary and whilst not condoning the murder of her husband you at least can sympathise with her and her very delicate emotional state. I drew some parallels with Cormac McCarthy's The Road in its bleakness and page turning ability to get you drawn in and hooked from page one.
I heartily recommend the Outlander and was quite sad to reach the end! I sincerely hope the author Gil Adamson will write further as I absolutely adore this book.
We follow our main character, Mary Boulton "the widow" who is running away from killing her husband and is being pursued by her two brothers in law through 19th century Canadian wilderness.
The language and prose used are just exceptional conjuring up in your mind with each paragraph the intensity of the situation Mary finds herself in. I found the narrative and pace just addictive and it hooked me all the way through to the climatic ending. We are introduced to many memorable characters along Mary's journey which even now stick in my mind. The story is haunting and emotional, but also exciting and takes you into the mind of Mary and whilst not condoning the murder of her husband you at least can sympathise with her and her very delicate emotional state. I drew some parallels with Cormac McCarthy's The Road in its bleakness and page turning ability to get you drawn in and hooked from page one.
I heartily recommend the Outlander and was quite sad to reach the end! I sincerely hope the author Gil Adamson will write further as I absolutely adore this book.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Elizabeth Taylor
VINE VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Vine Customer Review of Free Product
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This book's main interest is the haunting way in which the main character is held at arm's length which leaves plenty of room for the imagination. The basic storyline is of a young 19 year old girl who is literally running from her past as she is perused relentlessly by the two brothers of the husband she has murdered. She runs blindly into the wilderness and her struggle to survive, her willpower, her sense of helplessness, her acceptance of isolation and her eventual coming to terms with herself form the bulk of the novel.
Along the way in the wilderness she meets a number of unusual and interesting characters who help her come to terms with herself as an individual and not as an appendage of her father or husband Although the author never allows us to glimpse too much of the widow's reasoning, thoughts and inner self - we do however get just enough to keep the interest.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, its well written although it starts off slowly with many descriptions of the Canadian wilderness the pace does pick up. As the brother's get closer the widow starts to build relationships and the author unwinds her personal tale which is subtle and interesting. So this is a book for those who are interested in human relationships and how we all have to cope with their messiness, its set in 1903 so its also a tale of a women asserting herself in a male society. The slow beginning may put some off but they should persevere because as the widow is always out of arm's reach this is a book that you think about when you put it down and it provides a tantalizing glimpse of life outside mainstream society where the wilderness coldly reflects human frailty.
Along the way in the wilderness she meets a number of unusual and interesting characters who help her come to terms with herself as an individual and not as an appendage of her father or husband Although the author never allows us to glimpse too much of the widow's reasoning, thoughts and inner self - we do however get just enough to keep the interest.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, its well written although it starts off slowly with many descriptions of the Canadian wilderness the pace does pick up. As the brother's get closer the widow starts to build relationships and the author unwinds her personal tale which is subtle and interesting. So this is a book for those who are interested in human relationships and how we all have to cope with their messiness, its set in 1903 so its also a tale of a women asserting herself in a male society. The slow beginning may put some off but they should persevere because as the widow is always out of arm's reach this is a book that you think about when you put it down and it provides a tantalizing glimpse of life outside mainstream society where the wilderness coldly reflects human frailty.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Eileen Shaw
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
This reminded me of Steff Penney's book, 'The Tenderness of Wolves' as it has the same Canadian setting and involves a woman journeying across inhospitable country. This one has a widow being chased by the twin brothers of her husband, she having killed him with a rifle. She is the central character and does not attempt to justify her actions, even to herself. There are few moments which reveal how her antipathy comes about, though there is a depiction of his violence in the bedroom and she suspects him of courting another woman. Nevertheless, seeing everything from her p.o.v. and having her pursued by men portrayed as cold and emotionless puts one on her side. We are used to reading about men who are outlaws, we even approve of a certain amount of criminal panache - our anti-heroes in literature are legion, but can women be allowed the same freedom?
Gil Adamson writes the Canadian landscape with a marvellous mixture of plain prose and tough poetic panache - it's see-through writing with a variety of characters who leap off the page. There are some moments that reminded me of the implacable beauty of Jim Crace's prose - especially as the town of Frank is buried under a landslide, reminiscent of what happens in his book The Pesthouse, when a natural gas disaster sinks a similar one-horse town under a lake. The atmosphere of The Outlander is equally well-created. It's a marvellous read, taut and nearly unbearable near to the end, but during her flight the widow discovers that most of what she wants to do she can do alone.
Gil Adamson writes the Canadian landscape with a marvellous mixture of plain prose and tough poetic panache - it's see-through writing with a variety of characters who leap off the page. There are some moments that reminded me of the implacable beauty of Jim Crace's prose - especially as the town of Frank is buried under a landslide, reminiscent of what happens in his book The Pesthouse, when a natural gas disaster sinks a similar one-horse town under a lake. The atmosphere of The Outlander is equally well-created. It's a marvellous read, taut and nearly unbearable near to the end, but during her flight the widow discovers that most of what she wants to do she can do alone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Lot Edgier Than the Rather 'Romantic' Pic on the Dust Jacket...
I should say straight off I'm still a bit undecided about the rating. In many respects, eg the way Adamson sustains an atmosphere of menace that waxes and wanes but never recedes... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't pan out...
Quite a strange book and on the whole well written - great description of the wilderness but overly narrative in other parts. Read more
Published 1 month ago by DustBowl
4.0 out of 5 stars
a fascinating idea
This story follows the travels of a young woman who runs away after apparently killing her husband and having a baby. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Corven
4.0 out of 5 stars
Flight of The Widow
I don't usually read adventure books but I have a vague recollection of catching an episode of this on the radio when it was 'book at bedtime' a couple of years ago and I was... Read more
Published 4 months ago by E. A. Banks
4.0 out of 5 stars
A really good read
I enjoyed this story, the heroine was an unusual person, but nonetheless a good readable story. It could have been a bit better if she had been referred to by her name instead of... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Annabelle
4.0 out of 5 stars
The outlander
Enjoyable and interesting read but it left me with a sense of unfinished buisness maybe this was the intention of the book,but the story line was good as was the characters .
Published 4 months ago by robert
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fight for Survival
If like me, you find the first few pages heavy-going, persevere, because this is a great read. The main character, who is referred to as 'the woman' for most of the book and only... Read more
Published 6 months ago by sally MacLaren
4.0 out of 5 stars
A mixture of emotions
Slow to start with, but ultimately a very satisfactory read. Our book club on the whole enjoyed it with a few exceptions.
Published 6 months ago by Robert J. Avent
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping and Thoughtful
I picked up this book because of the picture on the front cover. It portrayed a sense of adventure. The book isn't quite the adventure I was looking for. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Andreas Wilhelm
5.0 out of 5 stars
different
I liked this idea of a book very much for me it was fresh and diffrent and very memorable. I recommend this book to readers and book clubs.
Published 13 months ago by ireadnovels
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