If you’ve ever scrolled through historical fiction forums looking for "something like Outlander," you’ve seen the name. Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati. It’s basically the go-to recommendation for anyone suffering from Jamie Fraser withdrawal. But honestly? Calling it a clone does it a massive disservice. This 1998 debut isn't just a romance. It’s a sprawling, messy, 800-page beast of a book that tries to reconcile the "civilized" world with the raw, bleeding edge of the American frontier.
Set in 1792, the story lands us in Paradise, New York. It’s a tiny village in the Adirondacks that is anything but a paradise. We follow Elizabeth Middleton, a 29-year-old "spinster" (her words, or rather the era's words) who leaves a cushy life in England to join her father and brother. She wants to build a school. She wants to teach everyone—boys, girls, white, Black, and Native American. She's idealistic. Maybe a little too "woke" for 1792, but her heart is in the right place. Then she meets Nathaniel Bonner.
Nathaniel is... a lot. He’s a white man who was raised by the Mohawk. He wears leggings, carries a long rifle, and has a past that would make a soap opera writer blush. He's also the son of Hawkeye—yes, that Hawkeye from The Last of the Mohicans.
The Last of the Mohicans Connection (It's Not a Remake)
A lot of people pick up this book thinking it’s a direct sequel to James Fenimore Cooper’s classic. It kind of is, but it’s more of a "remix" or a legacy sequel. Sara Donati (the pen name for academic Rosina Lippi) basically looked at Cooper’s work and thought, "Great adventure, but the women are cardboard cutouts."
She fixed that.
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In Donati’s world, Nathaniel Bonner is the son of Nathaniel Bumppo (Hawkeye) and Cora Munro. If you remember the 1992 Daniel Day-Lewis movie, this makes total sense. If you read the original 1826 book, you’ll be confused because Cora dies in that one. Donati sticks to the "cinematic" lore where Cora survives. It’s a clever bridge. It gives the story a sense of weight—like you’re stepping into a history that already exists.
But don't expect a carbon copy of the movie's vibe. This is much more grounded in the day-to-day grit of frontier life. We’re talking about the politics of land ownership, the brutal reality of the slave trade in the North, and the constant friction between the Mohawk people and the settlers moving in on their territory.
Elizabeth Middleton: A Heroine Who Actually Thinks
Elizabeth is the soul of the book. Some critics say she’s a bit too modern for the late 18th century. Maybe. She’s fiercely independent and refuses to be a pawn in her father’s scheme to marry her off to Richard Todd, a local powerhouse with a dark streak.
Actually, the conflict with Richard Todd is where the book gets really tense. It’s not just a "love triangle" in the boring sense. It’s a clash of worldviews. Todd sees the wilderness as something to be conquered, owned, and stripped. Nathaniel and Elizabeth see it as a living thing.
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The romance between Elizabeth and Nathaniel is fast. Like, really fast. They go from "nice to meet you" to "let's elope into the woods" in what feels like a weekend. If you like a slow burn, this might frustrate you. But once they are together, the book shifts. It becomes about staying together while everything around them—the law, their families, and the literal environment—tries to pull them apart.
The "Outlander" Crossover Nobody Talks About
Okay, here is the fun part for the nerds. Sara Donati and Diana Gabaldon are actually friends. Because of this, there is a literal crossover in Into the Wilderness.
About a hundred pages in, Elizabeth and Nathaniel are at a dinner party. They meet a Scottish couple and their nephew. There’s a mention of a "white witch" named Claire and a tall, red-headed Scot. It’s a brief cameo, but it’s 100% Jamie and Claire Fraser. This isn't just fan service; it establishes that these two massive book universes exist in the same timeline. It’s a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, but for fans, it's like finding a hidden Easter egg in a Marvel movie.
Why the Wilderness Series Still Matters
Donati didn't stop with one book. This is the start of a six-book saga that spans generations.
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- Into the Wilderness (The start of it all)
- Dawn on a Distant Shore
- Lake in the Clouds
- Fire Along the Sky
- Queen of Swords
- The Endless Forest
What makes this series stand out is the research. Donati is a linguist and a former professor. She doesn't just guess what 1792 sounded like; she knows. She weaves in the Mohawk language, the specific dialects of the era, and the medicinal practices of the time with incredible detail. It feels lived-in. When Elizabeth is tramping through the snow in a pair of ruined silk slippers, you feel the cold.
Common Misconceptions
- Is it just a romance novel? No. It's historical fiction with a heavy romance subplot. The politics and survival elements are just as important as the kissing.
- Do I need to read The Last of the Mohicans first? Not at all. It helps for some of the "Easter eggs," but the story stands completely on its own.
- Is it historically accurate? Mostly. Donati takes liberties with characters from other books (like Hawkeye), but the historical setting—the tensions in New York after the Revolution—is very well-documented.
Actionable Insights for New Readers
If you're thinking about diving into the Wilderness, here's the best way to do it:
- Pace yourself. It’s a long book. Don’t try to rush through the middle sections where the plot slows down to focus on domestic life in the mountains. Those details matter later.
- Pay attention to the side characters. Curiosity and Galileo Freeman, two freed slaves who live near the Bonners, are some of the best characters in the series. Their story becomes much more central as the books progress.
- Look for the sequels. If you find yourself liking the "next generation" of the Bonner family, Donati has a follow-up series (The Gilded Hour and Where the Light Enters) that follows the family's descendants in late 19th-century New York City.
Honestly, the best way to approach this book is to treat it like a vacation. It’s a world you're going to live in for a while. It’s not perfect—Elizabeth can be a bit "holier than thou" sometimes, and the plot has some wild coincidences—but the atmosphere is unmatched. If you want to disappear into the woods for a few weeks without actually leaving your couch, this is the one.
Your next step should be checking your local library or Kindle store for a copy of Into the Wilderness to see if Elizabeth and Nathaniel’s journey hits home for you.