---
product_id: 1183735
title: "The Drums of Autumn"
price: "R359"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1183735-the-drums-of-autumn
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# 4th book in epic Outlander saga Set in pre-Revolutionary American Colonies Rich historical fiction & romance blend The Drums of Autumn

**Price:** R359
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📖 Time-travel, passion, and history collide in The Drums of Autumn — don’t miss the saga everyone’s talking about!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Drums of Autumn
- **How much does it cost?** R359 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/1183735-the-drums-of-autumn)

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- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
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## Key Features

- • **Epic Time-Travel Saga:** Dive into the 4th thrilling installment of Diana Gabaldon's legendary Outlander series.
- • **Unforgettable Setting:** Explore Fraser’s Ridge and the American Colonies on the brink of revolution, brought vividly to life.
- • **Award-Winning Bestseller:** Join over 49,000 readers who rated this masterpiece 4.7/5 stars and counting.
- • **Multi-Generational Drama:** Follow Claire, Jamie, Brianna, and Roger through complex family ties and heart-wrenching journeys.
- • **Immersive Historical Romance:** Experience a masterful blend of 18th-century history and sizzling romance that captivates every page.

## Overview

The Drums of Autumn is the fourth novel in Diana Gabaldon's acclaimed Outlander series, blending historical fiction with romance. Set in the American Colonies just before the Revolution, it follows Claire and Jamie Fraser as they build a new life on Fraser’s Ridge, while their daughter Brianna and her suitor Roger navigate time-travel and perilous challenges. Praised for its rich storytelling and complex characters, this bestseller has earned a 4.7-star rating from nearly 50,000 readers.

## Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The fourth book in Diana Gabaldon’s acclaimed Outlander saga, the basis for the Starz original series—season 8 coming in March 2026! “Unforgettable characters . . . richly embroidered with historical detail.”— The Cincinnati Post What if you knew someone you loved was going to die? What if you thought you could save them? How much would you risk to try? Claire Randall has gone to find Jamie Fraser, the man she loved more than life, and has left half her heart behind with their daughter, Brianna. Claire gave up Jamie to save Brianna, and now Bree has sent her mother back to the mysterious Scottish warrior who was willing to give his life to save them both. But a chilling discovery in the pages of history suggests that Jamie and Claire’s story doesn’t have a happy ending. Brianna dares a terrifying leap into the unknown in search of her mother and the father she has never met, risking her own future to try to change history . . . and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past . . . or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong.

Review: If I could give this more than 5***** stars I would! - Please excuse the length of this review, but it is a very long book with important events that set up the next books in the series. Drums of Autumn, Book 4 of the Outlander series, dropped me right into the middle the action, which is something I always relish. After all, a man being hanged is quite dramatic to say the least, and this happens on page three. Ms. Gabaldon is at her descriptive writing best as she describes Claire’s thoughts and emotions. I felt as if I could actually feel her pulse in her carotid arteries as it beat in time with the drums. Feel her wet shift bathed in sweat from the oppressive heat as she watches a friend from Jamie’s time in Ardsmuir prison meet his end for stealing six pounds, ten shillings. As the man dies, one of the other convicted men sentenced to hang that day takes the opportunity to escape. As Claire and Jamie travel toward Wilmington, hoping to find a ship for Young Ian so he can return to Scotland, (Ian ends up staying with C&J and finds Rollo) they stumble across the escaped man and aid him, then part ways. Little did I know this man, Stephen Bonnet, with his faint Irish accent, would become the new villain of this series. Claire and Jamie begin their journey upriver to Cross Creek, where Jamie’s Aunt Jocasta lives on the plantation River Run. Before they reach their destination, they set upon by pirates and their ring leader is none other than Stephen Bonnet. He steals their valuable jewels they had planned to use to establish themselves in this new country, along with Claire’s gold wedding band from her first marriage. You may wonder why this has significance to the story, but later on that same ring leads Brianna into a situation that has dire consequences for her and Roger. It starts the intricate plotline for Brianna and Roger. Brianna and Roger’s story line had her in 1969 Boston and Roger in Scotland, but Roger soon comes to visit and their romance progresses beyond friendship during his stay. This part of the story is a bit slow moving, but interesting nonetheless and pulled me into their relationship, so personally I did not mind. When Brianna discovers something that affects her parents, she travels through the stones back to 1769 to warn them of what is to come, leaving Roger in 1971 Scotland. Roger has also found out the same information and realizes Brianna has gone back. He follows her and through some harrowing misadventures of his own, eventually chases her to Wilmington. After a brief reunion, where they commit to a handfasting, they part on less than ideal terms, and a great many horrifying events occur to both of them. Drums of Autumn, for me, is just as much Brianna and Roger’s story as it is Claire and Jamie’s. Ms. Gabaldon intertwines the two plotlines masterfully, as only a superb storyteller can, keeping me thoroughly enmeshed in all the characters’ lives. I love it when I become so obsessed with a book that even when I cannot read due to everyday life interferences, my mind will not stop thinking about it. To me, this is the sign of an extremely well-written, riveting and compelling story. In this book, we are again reunited with many of the characters from the previous books and introduced to quite a few others. At times, I almost wish I had started a chart of all the characters so that when they are brought into the story again, I will immediately remember why they are important. I think something like that in the front of these books would have been very helpful. I have to devote some of this review to Young Ian. What a courageous, brave and caring character. He has quite stolen my heart. I don’t want to give anything away, but oh my, his willingness to sacrifice all moved me to tears. His great love and respect for Jamie and Claire is amazing. I really expected this review to be rather short, but there are many pivotal happenings in this one that build the founding blocks for the future stories. Hopefully, I have shared enough for you to understand why this is such an important book in the series. Along with the complicated plot, I also felt the deeper connection between Claire and Jamie and was greatly moved by the numerous tender moments between them. I am not talking about the sexual scenes, even though those are all amazing, but the ones of gentle touches and loving glances that abound in this powerful tale. Theirs truly is a love of a lifetime that transcends time and space. Well done Dianna Gabaldon for giving me such a spell-binding reading experience. Now I am on to the next one, The Fiery Cross. Happy reading!
Review: Don't Be Put Off by the Genre. This is the BEST Series! - This review is for the entire series. To those who rate it low b/c it is "too long"...did you not notice that before beginning it? To those who say there is too much sex...it IS technically classified as "romance"...skip the sex scenes, it won't take away from the story. To those who say there are inaccuracies (historical,factual)...it is a novel written for entertainment purposes with characters who are not all-knowing, not a history book for educational purposes. Ok. When my husband first brought this book back with him from Iraq (donated to the USO)and he told me he was reading a historical-fiction/romance/fantasy/time travel book, I teased him. I thought no way could such a book be an actual worthy read. I am a constant reader. I have to always have a book. So, when I was in-between books, I picked up this book just to pass the time. Don't make the same mistake I did..DO NOT be fooled by the genre. Don't make the mistake of thinking that these are typical bodice-ripping Highlander trash-romance...they are not. They are real literature. I do not enjoy romance novels, though I will read one if it is the only reading material available. I have to say that this series of books, though they do contain sex scenes, is NOT romance. They are a complex tale full of an entire cast of well-developed characters. I have been on the discussion boards that center around this series. Most of the women seem to be in love with (at least the idea of) the main male character, Jamie. As proof of how good the story told and the writing in this book is, I need to say that the physical description of him (and some parts of his personality) are a complete turn-off to me. He is pretty much the opposite of what I like. However, you don't need to be attracted to a character to enjoy reading about them and to grow to admire and care about them. The love story between Jamie and Claire is quite inspiring, so much so that my husband and I actually got matching tattoos inspired by the books. These stories are so well-written and in-depth, that I read them aloud to my children (simply not reading the child-inappropriate parts aloud) and all of them, from my 7-year-old daughter to my 18-year-old son, are as captivated as I am. These books weave the tale of well-developed, multifaceted characters, exploring their personal growth, interactions and relationships with one another, their people in their communities, and some well-known historical figures, all within the context of various historical time periods. From Jacobite-era Scotland to pre-revolutionary North Carolina (and many places in between), you will follow a brilliantly-written, gripping saga and you will be a part of a world you won't want to leave.

## Features

- Diana Galdabon's most dazzling and mesmerizing novel

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #203,628 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #23 in Time Travel Romances #26 in Historical Fantasy (Books) #155 in Romantic Fantasy (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 49,886 Reviews |

## Images

![The Drums of Autumn - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71guYAu4UBL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If I could give this more than 5***** stars I would!
*by R***Y on December 8, 2014*

Please excuse the length of this review, but it is a very long book with important events that set up the next books in the series. Drums of Autumn, Book 4 of the Outlander series, dropped me right into the middle the action, which is something I always relish. After all, a man being hanged is quite dramatic to say the least, and this happens on page three. Ms. Gabaldon is at her descriptive writing best as she describes Claire’s thoughts and emotions. I felt as if I could actually feel her pulse in her carotid arteries as it beat in time with the drums. Feel her wet shift bathed in sweat from the oppressive heat as she watches a friend from Jamie’s time in Ardsmuir prison meet his end for stealing six pounds, ten shillings. As the man dies, one of the other convicted men sentenced to hang that day takes the opportunity to escape. As Claire and Jamie travel toward Wilmington, hoping to find a ship for Young Ian so he can return to Scotland, (Ian ends up staying with C&J and finds Rollo) they stumble across the escaped man and aid him, then part ways. Little did I know this man, Stephen Bonnet, with his faint Irish accent, would become the new villain of this series. Claire and Jamie begin their journey upriver to Cross Creek, where Jamie’s Aunt Jocasta lives on the plantation River Run. Before they reach their destination, they set upon by pirates and their ring leader is none other than Stephen Bonnet. He steals their valuable jewels they had planned to use to establish themselves in this new country, along with Claire’s gold wedding band from her first marriage. You may wonder why this has significance to the story, but later on that same ring leads Brianna into a situation that has dire consequences for her and Roger. It starts the intricate plotline for Brianna and Roger. Brianna and Roger’s story line had her in 1969 Boston and Roger in Scotland, but Roger soon comes to visit and their romance progresses beyond friendship during his stay. This part of the story is a bit slow moving, but interesting nonetheless and pulled me into their relationship, so personally I did not mind. When Brianna discovers something that affects her parents, she travels through the stones back to 1769 to warn them of what is to come, leaving Roger in 1971 Scotland. Roger has also found out the same information and realizes Brianna has gone back. He follows her and through some harrowing misadventures of his own, eventually chases her to Wilmington. After a brief reunion, where they commit to a handfasting, they part on less than ideal terms, and a great many horrifying events occur to both of them. Drums of Autumn, for me, is just as much Brianna and Roger’s story as it is Claire and Jamie’s. Ms. Gabaldon intertwines the two plotlines masterfully, as only a superb storyteller can, keeping me thoroughly enmeshed in all the characters’ lives. I love it when I become so obsessed with a book that even when I cannot read due to everyday life interferences, my mind will not stop thinking about it. To me, this is the sign of an extremely well-written, riveting and compelling story. In this book, we are again reunited with many of the characters from the previous books and introduced to quite a few others. At times, I almost wish I had started a chart of all the characters so that when they are brought into the story again, I will immediately remember why they are important. I think something like that in the front of these books would have been very helpful. I have to devote some of this review to Young Ian. What a courageous, brave and caring character. He has quite stolen my heart. I don’t want to give anything away, but oh my, his willingness to sacrifice all moved me to tears. His great love and respect for Jamie and Claire is amazing. I really expected this review to be rather short, but there are many pivotal happenings in this one that build the founding blocks for the future stories. Hopefully, I have shared enough for you to understand why this is such an important book in the series. Along with the complicated plot, I also felt the deeper connection between Claire and Jamie and was greatly moved by the numerous tender moments between them. I am not talking about the sexual scenes, even though those are all amazing, but the ones of gentle touches and loving glances that abound in this powerful tale. Theirs truly is a love of a lifetime that transcends time and space. Well done Dianna Gabaldon for giving me such a spell-binding reading experience. Now I am on to the next one, The Fiery Cross. Happy reading!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Don't Be Put Off by the Genre. This is the BEST Series!
*by C***E on October 18, 2012*

This review is for the entire series. To those who rate it low b/c it is "too long"...did you not notice that before beginning it? To those who say there is too much sex...it IS technically classified as "romance"...skip the sex scenes, it won't take away from the story. To those who say there are inaccuracies (historical,factual)...it is a novel written for entertainment purposes with characters who are not all-knowing, not a history book for educational purposes. Ok. When my husband first brought this book back with him from Iraq (donated to the USO)and he told me he was reading a historical-fiction/romance/fantasy/time travel book, I teased him. I thought no way could such a book be an actual worthy read. I am a constant reader. I have to always have a book. So, when I was in-between books, I picked up this book just to pass the time. Don't make the same mistake I did..DO NOT be fooled by the genre. Don't make the mistake of thinking that these are typical bodice-ripping Highlander trash-romance...they are not. They are real literature. I do not enjoy romance novels, though I will read one if it is the only reading material available. I have to say that this series of books, though they do contain sex scenes, is NOT romance. They are a complex tale full of an entire cast of well-developed characters. I have been on the discussion boards that center around this series. Most of the women seem to be in love with (at least the idea of) the main male character, Jamie. As proof of how good the story told and the writing in this book is, I need to say that the physical description of him (and some parts of his personality) are a complete turn-off to me. He is pretty much the opposite of what I like. However, you don't need to be attracted to a character to enjoy reading about them and to grow to admire and care about them. The love story between Jamie and Claire is quite inspiring, so much so that my husband and I actually got matching tattoos inspired by the books. These stories are so well-written and in-depth, that I read them aloud to my children (simply not reading the child-inappropriate parts aloud) and all of them, from my 7-year-old daughter to my 18-year-old son, are as captivated as I am. These books weave the tale of well-developed, multifaceted characters, exploring their personal growth, interactions and relationships with one another, their people in their communities, and some well-known historical figures, all within the context of various historical time periods. From Jacobite-era Scotland to pre-revolutionary North Carolina (and many places in between), you will follow a brilliantly-written, gripping saga and you will be a part of a world you won't want to leave.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Family (real history) and Romantic history collide
*by W***S on December 4, 2017*

Pro's: Love this series. Originally, enthralled in the Scottish storyline and romantic adventure of Claire Randall (book one). DofA shocked me (in a good way) because it traces my family's real history, migrating from London England to North Carolina in 1768. I've been doing genealogy for 40 years and know quite a bit of North Carolina history. My 8xGrandfather was a mountain man (clearing land of wolves for farmers, fought in the Revolutionary War as a NC Regular (can't wait to read Fiery Cross to compare notes. Gabaldon has her good points, most (if not all) of the history is correct and accurate, if letting me wanting for more (details). Loved the hilarious initial interaction between Roger and Jamie. Demonstrated Jamie's impetuousness and Rogers stubborn resolve (God bless him) - ?irresistable force meets immovable object? Con's: Some of the storyline is shallow and not detailed enough. e.g. European settlers relationship with the Indians, Plantation owners' struggle for survival (could not do it without significant labor - I'm excluding the issue of slavery which was a travesty) and the politics of the area (NC vs SC, VA etc). Governor Tryon was a man of his time; a progeny of English culture; an innovator, pioneer, statesman, deal maker and evangelist - every hero has his faults. I wish Gabaldon had covered more of the backstories of the important issues of the time and related it back to Jamie and Claire's story. I also had wished a littel more detail on how Jamie managed to build their first cabin, farmed his first crop and other survival strategies for their given situation. Gabaldon also struggles at time, in making some of the relationships in the story plausible or realistic. Sometimes it's character development to explain the character's decision making process and sometimes it' a backstory in the development of the relationship. Roger/Brianna's meeting in New Bern was too shallow (my opinion); Ian's relationship with the Indian's required (I would have liked) more development and backstory; Fergus and Marsali's relationship is really skimmed over in this book. Overall, love these books (all the more because of my personal connection with the place and time) and look forward to reading the next.

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*Last updated: 2026-05-28*