Oriana: A Novel: A Novel of Oriana Fallaci

by Anastasia Rubis

When a Hollywood producer comes to Oriana at the end of her life to propose a movie, the story unfolds of her gutsy career rise as journalist, her tragic love, and her greatest regret. Oriana Fallaci was born a rebel. She fought beside her father at age fourteen in Italy’s Resistance against the Nazis and overcame poverty, the lack of a university education, and relentless sexism in the newsroom. By 1973 when she moved to New York, Oriana Fallaci was hailed by  Newsweek  as the greatest interviewer of her day. She became famous for her courageous and hard-hitting interviews with Kissinger, Arafat, Meir, Khomeini and other world leaders—not to mention the most prominent celebrities and artists of her day. That same year, 1973, she did what no journalist is supposed to she fell in love with one of her subjects, Alexander Panagoulis, the Greek poet and hero. She was 44, he was 34; they lived in different countries. It didn’t matter. Oriana had finally found what she longed a full life. But can a woman ever have it all, or does life always exact a price? Oriana is the first novel about the glamorous and fearless Italian journalist whom Christiane Amanpour has called her role model for asking tough questions—and who holds a place beside Mike Wallace and Barbara Walters when naming world-class interviewers. This biographical novel tells the story of one of the first women to break through the glass ceiling of journalism, a woman who wasn’t afraid to speak truth to power and who revolutionized her field, all while trying to balance her career with love and happiness.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club

368 pages, Hardcover

Published March 19, 2024

About the author

Debut novel ORIANA now available wherever books are sold. Mom. Wife. Greece!

Reviews

[Heidi Sickles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this book, I didn’t want to put it down. I only took reading breaks when my curiosity compelled me to cross reference a photo or video of Oriana Fallaci online.

I can’t believe I never heard of this trailblazing firecracker of a journalist! Oriana was a fascinating woman with a singular voice and style. The book stays true to the facts I found online, while being emotionally engaging and capturing all of the complexity and contradictions in Oriana’s character. The writing was beautiful and clear and I loved the period details. The detailed descriptions made the whole experience very visual without slowing down the narrative.

Oriana was an entertaining and thought provoking read very relevant to women’s rights today. Beyond that, it's a great story about a fascinating person. I can’t wait for my Book Club to read it. There’s a lot to discuss!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a magnificent novel of the life of the famed Italian correspondent Oriana Fallaci, who inspired generations of journalists, including Barbara Walters and Christiane Amanpour. The author brings Oriana to vivid life as she bursts through the glass ceiling of male-run journalism in the '60s-'80s, with the force of her brilliance, spirit, and daring.

We follow her passionate though doomed love story with Alekos Panagoulias, a Greek resistance figure. Her interviews with world leaders were legendary, and she was once considered "the most famous--and feared--interviewer in the world."

Highly recommended for anyone intrigued by the lives of trailblazing women, and a spectacular pick for book clubs.

Thank you to author Anastasia Rubis and Delphinium Books for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

[Sarah Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love women!! And I love that this book introduced me to this particular woman - a pioneer in her field! A great story that explores what it means to be a woman who is fearless in her pursuit of career success while also grappling with understanding how love and family fits into the puzzle

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a good book and well written, it wasn't the book I was expecting to read. Although it covered Oriana Fallaci's youth with the resistance in Italy during WWII and the relationship with her family, it was mostly about her love life (which indeed was legend and well known at the time) but primarily focused on her great love Alexandros Panagoulis , a Greek politician and poet. He took an active role in the fight against the Regime of the Colonels (1967–1974) in Greece. It kind of glossed over her work (although we do learn about it) in favor of her love life. In the end, I just felt I had read the wrong book for what I was looking for. Am now reading Oriana Fallaci: the journalist, the agitator, the legend by Christina De Stephano, which while not ignoring her love life (it was inextricably mixed into her work life), gives a more detailed look at her work and working life.
She was a remarkable journalist and writer

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oriana by Anastasia Rubis. Thanks to the author for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Oriana Fallaci is approached by a producer to make her life into a movie, her story as a female journalist rises.

I did not know who Oriana Fallaci was before I read this but I’m so glad for the introduction. I’ve been reading up on her non stop while reading this story; I couldn’t get enough! If you enjoy stories about real women, especially career women, who were ahead of their times, this is one you’ll like.

Oriana is available now.

[Finley Kalinic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved !!!!!! Not like my usual book but it was reallllyyyy good. I loved how it still gave fiction vibes when it was actually about orianas life and everything she accomplished. She is such a girl boss !!!!

[Mike Sickles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well written, I loved the blend of cultures and historical realism. So important to read books about forgotten women in history. Not only did I enjoy reading this page-turner, but I also learned so much.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Orianna was a firecracker. We read this book for book club Author was amazing. I know who Orianna is now

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to preface this and say I don't usually read biographical fiction, but this was an exception. This book is phenomenal!!! I can't believe this is a debut novel. I was intrigued right away by Oriana's life. She was an extraordinary woman. She was an Italian correspondent who started when she was in her teens working for the Italian newspaper in the 1940s. Then later on she became a war correspondent who covered multiple wars in the 1960s including the Vietnam War. Throughout her entire career Oriana interviewed many world leaders. She forged a path for female reporters during a time when men were dominant in this field.

The author captures Oriana's voice so well. For a moment I thought I was reading an autobiography. The author had done her research. Lots of the events in the story were true. It was shocking and added more depth to the story. The author also included Oriana's romance with Greek poet and politician Alexandros Panagoulis. Their love story was beautifully written. Overall, Oriana is a definite page turner and a must read. A book that I will remember for a long time.

Thank you to the author for my gifted copy.

[Julie Ciocci · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 - This book is not talked about enough. A slow read but extremely impactful:

“Maybe someday, women would harness the astonishing power of having brains and a womb. They could scale every mountain in the heroine’s journey, be tenaciously driven, the best in their fields and limitless, nurturing mothers. They wouldn’t have to choose between being somebody and loving somebody. They could have both, like men.”

[Ruby Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thrilling read! The captivating love story, impressive career, and unfamiliar and compelling political history kept me so engaged. I found myself checking Oriana’s Wikipedia page and questioning why Rubis was the first to introduce me to the impressive and controversial woman. It is well researched and beautifully written! I read the last 2/3 in one sitting!

[Becca Stresino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Oriana Fallaci in 2023 through Cristina DeStefano’s biography, and was thoroughly enthralled with the life of this feminist icon.
Thus I was so excited to check out this fictionalization of her incredible life by Anastasia Rubis. Rubis did not disappoint and I could barely put this book down.
A wonderful five star read and reminder that women are awesome!!

[Nina Leeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

An instant favorite! The story is mesmerizing and it’s a book I know I will continue to think about for many years to come! Oriana’s story is truly incredible and this book captures it so beautifully. A five-star must read!!!

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The writing, the narration, and the subject were wonderful.

It cannot be an easy feat to write a fictionalized story about such an accomplished person. I feel betrayed by my liberal arts education! Why didn't I learn about Oriana Fallaci in my journalism and communications classes?

Despite her professional accomplishments, Fallaci longed for love in an almost desperate way. Or did she? This is fiction...

I am suitably intrigued to follow up with a biography as well as reading one of Fallaci's books. In my online snooping, I have seen some backlash for her post-September 11th statements re: Islamic extremists, but my guess is that she was talking more about religious extremism, which happened to be Islamic extremists in that case. I wish Fallaci were alive to report (and comment) on all flavors of religious extremism that we see around the globe.

[Frankie DAlessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HIGHLY recommend you put this new biographical novel on your lists! What Anastasia Rubis accomplishes is a spectacular feat -as the author of the plays Roman Nights, Solo Anna and A Dark Day for Tennessee, I know a thing or two about research and biographical drama- and this novel is sensational. More than that, it is important culturally to know and remember who Oriana Fallaci was -- a great literary and journalistic hero of the 20th century. Fallaci's amazing life story and impressive accomplishments as a writer are beautifully interwoven in this compelling book which is framed around Fallaci's literary masterpiece, A MAN. Rubis exhibits deft skill in incorporating biographical details with her own strong, unique voice with the muscular tautness of Hemingway and Woolf --and Fallaci herself-- that is evoked throughout. You will be captivated by this deeply personal journey to wring the most out of life while trying to matter and make a difference; a journey in which we all can see a piece of ourselves. If the last 40 pages do not move you to tears, you may not have a soul. This is a perfect summer read and ideal for Book Clubs!

[Diane E. Montgomery · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting subject, but poorly written. Awkward style, grammar, cliche, cringe-worthy descriptions of romantic scenes.
Rubis graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brown? Really? not in English I hope: Lawrence Durrell wrote the Alexandria Quartet, not T.S. Eliot. And she was an adjunct English Professor? Oh dear.
And was the editor asleep? e.g. "toll ships" you mean tall ships, I assume.

Also Ms Rubis states that Panagoulis accused King Constantine of being favorable to the Colonels' regime: I don't know if Panagoulis said such a stupid thing -I hope not- but nothing could be further from the truth. Papadopoulos accused the king of plotting with foreign powers and had him deposed and forced to leave the country. The King had accepted (sadly) to step down on condition that a civilian government be set up. Get your facts right.

[Isabelle B.L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth in fiction. The saying can certainly be applied to Anastasia Rubis's novel inspired by the great Oriana Fallaci. Beautifully written, fascinating dialogues that portray Oriana Fallaci's personal and public lives especially in connection with the Greek hero Alexander Panagoulis. Modern audiences can appreciate the themes affecting society in the 60s, 70s namely sexism, abortion and dictatorships. Oriana is not just presented as a strong woman, but as a woman with doubts and fears and what-ifs making her accessible to all age groups and professions. I congratulate the author on this book and for resurrecting Oriana's voice so badly needed today.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this book. This book. I’m not sure how to even explain this book to you guys. I can only say it’s one amazing read. But this book isn’t just a story, it’s a biographical telling of an Italian journalist, who I didn’t even know existed but will never be able to forget now.

The writing is as fierce as the story itself. At times I couldn’t tell which I was more drawn to: the writing or the story. Both shine equally. I loved the history that often shaped Oriana and her actions.

This is a must read for lovers of strong women who refuse to take the easy road. You’ll enjoy this book in every sense. I promise.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a hero of investigative journalism as an inspiration? Anastasia Rubis’ debut novel “Oriana,” which helps us see award-winning journalist Oriana Fallaci beyond her brilliance and courageousness, humanizes the subject even as it lifts her up on a pedestal. Using three timelines over six decades, readers hurtle through the life of Oriana Fallaci, dipping in and out of events around the globe that include wartime rebellion, love affairs, heartbreak, breaking the rules, and standing up to obstacles wherever they appear. I hesitate to use “swashbuckling” to describe the character that Ms. Rubis creates in “ORIANA: A Novel of Oriana Fallaci,” but it fits.

[Kay Cupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for so many reasons. It was an easy read. I found myself absorbed in when I picked it up and regretful when I put it down. I had no prior knowledge of the real Oriana Fallaci or other characters in the story. I loved the author’s writing style, the descriptions of people and places- you could close your eyes and imagine being in Florence, Greece, and NYC. The weaving of history into this novel was well done. Oriana Fallaci was an accomplished trailblazer and being introduced to her via this book has prompted me to read the books she wrote.

[Libby Munoz-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oriana is a gripping story about the life and career of an extraordinary journalist. Rubis delves into the daily challenges of being a woman in journalism in the 1970s who strives to have both a career and a family. Meticulously researched and eloquently written, this novel paints a compelling picture of Oriana's courage, resilience, and pursuit of the truth. I can't believe I had never heard of Oriana Fallaci before. Highly recommend for fans of biographical fiction!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oriana is a thoroughly engaging journey from start to finish! The author's writing drew me in immediately and made me feel as if I was witnessing Oriana's life firsthand. It was a compelling story that that combined history, humanity and the power of a woman who carved her own path and lived on her own terms. We can all learn something from Oriana. Thank you Anastasia!!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oriana launched off at breakneck speed and then slowed in the middle with the introduction of her true love Alexander Panagoulis. Their love affair was a bit more melodramatic than I care for but that is my problem.

The last 100 pages picked up again and I found myself reading while cooking dinner-any spare moment.

An ultimately satisfying experience

[An Buberoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! I didn't know of Oriana's existence before I happened upon this book. It was a great way to be introduced to this powerful journalist. This story has it all: the childhood that forms the woman, the struggle if a woman can have it all, up-close meetings with celebrities and world leaders and all of it set in a beautiful love story with a fascinating man.

[Oriana Sengos · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, especially since I was named after the subject. Unfortunately it didn’t hit the mark. It was poorly written - it read more like an essay or report than a novel. It portrays Oriana’s life very literally and is quite informative but I found it difficult to keep my attention.

[Tami Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I loved this story and appreciated the information about her life. It isn’t often that I am compelled to research the life and legacy of a character as I was when being introduced to this fascinating woman.

[Genesis Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I’ve never heard of Oriana before!! So thankful to have read this book and learn about such a badass woman in history!! A love story but also a story about a woman breaking barriers in Journalism in the 60s/70s, a must read for sure!

[Ashley Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a biography but a novel based on the life of a really interesting Italian journalist, writer and woman. I loved the depth of character, cheered her on in triumph and found her struggles very relatable

[Pamela Weber-Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a read! An engrossing tale from beginning to end about a woman we should all have known about, beautifully written and skillfully weaving historical details into the novelization of her incredible life.

[Marie McEachern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and learning about Oriana Fallaci. I had a difficult time putting it down, and want to learn more about her.