Outlander as Public History: Dr. Alex Dold on Making History and Reading Accessible

From Stories of Change & Creativity by Professor Judy Oskam

January 26, 2026 · 41 min · Episode 108

About this episode

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Alexandra Dold about the intersection of historical fiction and public history through the lens of Outlander.

If you’re a fan of Outlander, the historical fiction series set in Scotland, like I am, this episode is for you. In this conversation, I talk with Dr. Alexandra “Alex” Dold, a literary scholar and historian known as the “Doctor of Outlander,” about her academic journey and career path. We discuss how historical fiction can become public history — inviting people to connect with history beyond textbooks and classrooms. During this episode, you’ll learn how Outlander and other historical ...

People in this episode

Host: Professor Judy Oskam

Guest: Dr. Alexandra “Alex” Dold

Topics covered

historical fiction
public history
literary scholarship
Outlander
education
cultural connection

Keywords

Outlander
public history
historical fiction
literary scholar
Dr. Alex Dold
Scotland
education

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Outlander

Places: Scotland