Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. You likely know these names and faces from the phenomenally popular television series Outlander, adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling book series of the same name. Heughan plays everyone’s favourite fictional husband, Jamie Fraser, and McTavish his prickly uncle, Dougal MacKenzie. The relationship between these two extends well beyond the screen, however. Over the past few years Heughan and McTavish have taken an idea to explore the culture of the Scottish Highlands and expanded it from the initial concept of a podcast into a full-blown television show, Men in Kilts, which fans hope to see air in 2021.
As if this were not enough, while confined during the COVID-19 pandemic, Heughan and McTavish took on another new challenge — writing their first book! Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other is exactly what the title suggests and exactly what you would expect from these two bantering buddies. Along with recounting their rollicking journey through the Scottish Highlands, the book shares tales from Heughan and McTavish’s personal histories, a peek behind the scenes of Outlander, and many a night full of whisky and shenanigans among close friends.
Clanlands may surprise readers, however, as it is more than just a traditional tale of two old chums hitting the road together for the hell of it. The amount of historical information and the level of detail provided throughout is impressive. Heughan and McTavish share what they learned through their own studies as well as their trip together, including such key moments in Scottish history as the Massacre of Glencoe, epic feuds among the clans, and, of course, the infamous Battle of Culloden.
Balancing out the heavy, and quite often bloody, history of their country, Heughan and McTavish also make plenty of room for fun in their travels and likewise in this book. (In all truthfulness poor McTavish is put through the ringer time and again by Heughan, but he is a good sport about it and holds his own when it comes to ribbing!) From learning to ride a rickety old tandem bike together to careening through the countryside in a camper van which Heughan –umm, how can I put this delicately? — struggles to drive, readers are sure to find themselves chuckling at the antics which results from this pair. The structure of the alternating narration between Heughan and McTavish works well to provide fodder for their joking, while also allowing glimpses into their personal thoughts and experiences.
Part reflection on their journey through the Highlands, part Scottish history lesson, and a huge dash of what I can only describe as the alpha male version of Thelma & Louise (don’t worry folks, no canyons involved here!), Clanlands takes readers on a wild ride in more ways than one. Toss in a hilariously ribald foreword from Diana Gabaldon herself, along with cameos by other Outlander cast favourites, and you end up with one entertaining read fans will not want to miss!
Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore. Many thanks to Mobius Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
About The Authors
Sam Heughan came to fame through the hit TV show Outlander, playing the lead character Jamie Fraser for five successful seasons. Released on Starz in the US, the show is viewed all around the world. With a career in theatre (Laurence Olivier award nominee), television and film spanning 17 years. Most recently seen in the Sony Pictures Bloodshot movie opposite Vin Diesel. Graham McTavish has had an acting career spanning 35 years – best known as Dougal Mackenzie in the Starz hit show Outlander, and the fence Dwarf, Dwalin, in the Hobbit trilogy. He most recently starred as The Saint of Killers in AMC’s show, Preacher, based on the cult graphic novels of the same name.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
From their faithful camper van to boats, kayaks, bicycles, and motorbikes, join stars of Outlander Sam and Graham on a road trip with a difference, as two Scotsmen explore a land of raw beauty, poetry, feuding, music, history, and warfare.
Unlikely friends Sam and Graham begin their journey in the heart of Scotland at Glencoe and travel from there all the way to Inverness and Culloden battlefield, where along the way they experience adventure and a cast of highland characters. In this story of friendship, finding themselves, and whisky, they discover the complexity, rich history and culture of their native country.
