I found this book to be the ultimate in historical fiction, fantasy, romance, and adventure. Gabaldon does a wonderful job of putting you right in the middle of the action with her elaborate setting description. She details the various states of her dress or and hygiene (or lack thereof), plants, the landscape, even the sky. She has a poetic sense to her descriptions and makes you feel as if you can actually feel it as you are picturing it in your head. One of my all-time favorite books.