ROSANNA BATTIGELLI, AUTHOR
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  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • Professional & Cultural Associations
  • Publishing History
  • Anthologies & Journals My Stories Are In
  • Awards & Recognition
  • In Ro's Room (Rose Room)
  • LA BRIGANTESSA
  • Synopsis of La Brigantessa
  • Book Trailer for La Brigantessa
  • ENDORSEMENTS & REVIEWS of LA BRIGANTESSA
  • Excerpt from La Brigantessa
  • LINKS to Articles, Interviews, & Blogs
  • HARLEQUIN ROMANCES
  • Swept Away by the Enigmatic Tycoon
  • Captivated by Her Italian Boss
  • Caribbean Escape with the Tycoon
  • Rescued by the Guarded Tycoon
  • Falling for the Sardinian Tycoon
  • Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round
  • Easter Morning, Easter Sun
  • Pigeon Soup & Other Stories
    • Pigeon Soup Readings, Podcasts, Interviews
  • SOME PAST EVENTS
  • Recent & Upcoming Events
  • CONTACT
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Synopsis of la Brigantessa


LA BRIGANTESSA is a novel set in the aftermath of Italy’s 1861 Unification, a turbulent periodknown as ‘The Decade of Fire,’ (1860-1870) when scores of brigands (outlaws) rebelled against the harsh policies imposed by the new government, which in turn ordered the destruction of the brigands and any-one harbouring  them.

Gabriella Falcone is a peasant girl from the impoverished south who works for Don Simone, the parish priest. She is forced to flee her hamlet in 1862 after stabbing a wealthy landowner in self-defence. Knowing her fate will be life imprisonment at best, the priest leads her through the harsh Aspromonte mountain range to seek refuge in an isolated monastery, but they soon fall into the hands of brigands. Gabriella is catapulted into a world she has only ever heard about in nervous whispers, a world where right and wrong, justice and vengeance take on new meanings. She is drawn into the role of brigantessa, and in the company of the brigand chief, Stefano Galante, she discovers that the convictions she once held dear no longer have a place in this wild, unlawful territory.
 

Gabriella wonders if she will ever clear her name and be able to return to a normal life. Experiencing the harsh existence of a brigandess, she discovers what she must do to survive and to ultimately vindicate herself.


LA BRIGANTESSA è un romanzo che ha luogo nel periodo post-unitario d’Italia, un periodo tumultuoso conosciuto come ‘Il Decennio di fuoco,’ (1860-1870) il periodo in cui tantissimi briganti si ribellarono contro le politiche dure imposte dal nuovo governo, che in seguito, ordinò la distruzione dei briganti e dei loro manutengoli.

Gabriella Falcone è una contadina del Mezzogiorno che lavora da governante del parroco. Lei non può che fuggire dopo aver pugnalato un proprietario ricco per difendersi. Sapendo che Gabriella sarebbe imprigionata per la vita, Don Simone la guida per il territorio dell’Aspromonte in Calabria per rifugiarsi in un monastero isolato. Purtroppo sono presto scoperti e rapiti da una banda di briganti. Gabriella è gettata in un mondo di cui ha solamente sentito parlare in sussurri, un mondo dove giusto e sbagliato, giustizia e vendetta prendono nuovi significati. Accompagnando il capo brigante Stefano Galante, Gabriella fa parte della vita di brigantessa, e scopre che le convinzioni del passato non hanno posto in questo territorio selvaggio e illegale.

Gabriella si chiede se potrà prosciogliere il suo nome, e se potrà mai tornare a una vita normale. Vivendo questa esperienza da brigantessa, Gabriella scopre quello che deve fare per sopravvivere e per in fine vendicarsi.


Picture
Picture
This photograph is of brigantessa Michelina Di Cesare. She was from the Campania region of Italy. My novel is not specifically about her, but she was one of the female brigands I researched for this novel. This photo was in the public domain, and I was therefore able to use it on the cover of my book.

What is quite amazing, is that before my book was published in 2018, I found out about a "Michaela Di Cesare," an award-winning actor and playwright in Montreal. I contacted her and discovered that she was doing research on her ancestor Michelina Di Cesare! Since the time that we actually met in 2018--she came to my Toronto Book Launch of La Brigantessa--she has written a play about Michelina and hopes to have it staged one day. In September 2020, Michaela graciously agreed to play the part of "Gabriella" in my novel for the book trailer. She was perfect for the role. Andrew Andreoli was the videographer and Castelane was the company that designed the trailer.
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