Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone – Chapter 157: Author’s Notes
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In Chapter 157, “Author’s Notes,” Diana Gabaldon offers a comprehensive glossary and historical commentary for Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. She explains Scottish and French dialect phrases (e.g., “girdle and creamed crud”), clarifies word usage (“imminent” vs. “immanent”), and defines archaic terms such as “spider” (a three-legged frying pan) and “toe gunge.” Latin insults and the eighteenth-century expression “tace is the Latin for a candle” are translated.
Gabaldon acknowledges contributors including office manager Stephen Moore, musician Gillebride MacIllemhaoil, novelist Chris Humphreys, and Gaelic scholar Catherine MacGregor. She credits the Carmina Gadelica as the source for Gaelic verses and notes the real newspaper The Impartial Intelligencer from North Carolina.
The bulk of the notes profile historical figures central to the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution: Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea), Patrick Ferguson, Frederick Hambright, Benjamin Lincoln (rumored to have narcolepsy), Francis Locke, Francis Marion, Casimir Pulaski, and Haym Salomon. Gabaldon reveals that Pulaski’s bones, exhumed in the twenty-first century, suggest an intersex identity, explaining his request to be taken out to sea after being wounded. She details the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue—free men of color from the French Caribbean who fought at Savannah—and discusses Prince Hall Freemasonry. Mohawk naming customs are described by advisor kahentinetha bear, whose account differs from earlier portrayals in the series. The chapter also mentions golf balls, cricket, and the poem “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W. B. Yeats.
Key Events
- Glossary of dialect, archaic, and foreign terms used in the novel
- Acknowledgment of real people who assisted the author
- Documentation of period newspapers and the Carmina Gadelica
- Profiles of Joseph Brant, Patrick Ferguson, Frederick Hambright, Benjamin Lincoln, Francis Locke, Francis Marion, Casimir Pulaski, and Haym Salomon
- Revelation that Pulaski may have been intersex, based on DNA analysis of his remains
- Explanation of the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue (Haitian Navy) as free men of color
- Mention of Prince Hall Freemasonry
- kahentinetha bear’s description of Mohawk naming ceremony
- Gabaldon’s reflection on writing about cultures outside her own experience
- Inclusion of Yeats’s poem and notes on sports (golf, cricket)
Character Development
The chapter does not advance fictional character arcs. Instead, it enriches the portrayal of historical figures by providing real biographical details. Joseph Brant is shown as a complex figure living in two worlds. Francis Marion’s record includes pursuing enslaved people who fought for the British, a fact omitted from popular depictions. Pulaski’s possible intersex identity adds a layer of hidden personal history. Benjamin Lincoln’s narcolepsy humanizes a general often defined by surrenders. Gabaldon’s notes also reveal personal encounters: she met a descendant of Frederick Hambright at Kings Mountain and a reenactor (Sergeant Bradford) who guided her tour of Savannah.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Historical Authenticity: Gabaldon’s detailed sourcing and on-site research underscore the novel’s commitment to factual grounding.
- Language as Cultural Marker: Scots dialect, Latin phrases, French blessings, and Gàidhlig prayers convey the ethnic diversity of the colonial world.
- Identity and Transformation (metanoia): The discussion of Pulaski’s intersex body and Mohawk naming rites explores how identity is constructed, hidden, and reclaimed.
- The Ethics of Representation: Gabaldon directly addresses writing about cultures not her own, stressing the necessity of consultation and humility.
- Peace and Longing: Yeats’s “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” introduces a motif of yearning for simplicity, which echoes Jamie and Claire’s desire for tranquility amid war.
- Hidden History: Figures like the Chasseurs-Volontaires and Prince Hall Freemasonry highlight marginalized contributions to the Revolution.
Why This Chapter Matters
The Author’s Notes serve as a bridge between fiction and documented history, affirming that many characters and events in the novel have real counterparts. Gabaldon’s transparency about her research process and cultural consultants builds reader trust. The notes on Pulaski, Brant, and the Saint-Domingue soldiers challenge monolithic narratives of the Revolution, revealing a more diverse and complicated past. For scholars and fans, this chapter is a valuable reference that deepens appreciation of the novel’s craftsmanship and historical texture.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What does Gabaldon reveal about Casimir Pulaski’s identity, and why does it matter for the story?
Gabaldon notes that DNA analysis suggests Pulaski may have been intersex or female, which would explain his insistence on being taken aboard the Wasp rather than treated by an army surgeon on land, where his secret could have been exposed. In the novel, Roger tries to staunch Pulaski’s wounds before his men retrieve him; this real-life detail adds poignancy to the character’s death and underscores the theme of hidden identity.
2. How does the author address the challenge of writing about cultures not her own?
Gabaldon states that no two people experience a culture identically and that writers must seek assistance from books and personal stories. She credits Mohawk advisors kahentinetha bear and Eva Fadden, whose oral accounts sometimes contradicted written historical records. She pledges to apply their corrections in future books, demonstrating a commitment to growing cultural accuracy.
3. Name two real historical figures profiled in this chapter and explain their roles in the American Revolution as described.
- Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea): A Mohawk military leader who was college-educated and traveled to England to meet the King, seeking Iroquois alliance with the British against the American rebels.
- Haym Salomon: A Polish-Jewish banker who repeatedly secured loans that kept Washington’s army financially afloat, earning the title “Financier of the Revolution.”