My Books
Publications on Middle East and international politics through reportage, analysis, and direct testimonies. In progress: the biography of Princess Soraya of Afghanistan.
Fatherless Generation
Growing Up in War in the Middle East
A first-person account of five years spent in the Middle East, from the first reportage in Algeria (2012) following the footsteps of aid worker Rossella Urru, to life in Gaza and Israel, to the war against ISIS in Iraq (2014-2017).
The book offers a unique perspective on regional conflicts, interweaving reportage from the Mosul front, exclusive interviews with Hezbollah leaders and Lebanese ministers, stories of jihadists in Beirut prisons, and portraits of artists and singers from the region.
Officially presented at the Chamber of Deputies, Rome on July 17, 2019 with Mario Giro (former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs), Giorgio Benigni (analyst), and Hon. Rossella Muroni.
"A powerful journey through the contemporary Middle East. Gaja Pellegrini Bettoli tells with attentive eyes and an open heart the forgotten stories of a generation."
Shake-Up America
Understanding the 2020 Elections Like an American
A guide to the American electoral system written for the Italian public, published ahead of the 2020 presidential elections which saw the clash between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
With a foreword by Andrea Marinelli, the book explains the complex mechanisms of American voting through interviews with journalists, analysts, and presidential cabinet collaborators. A historical and constitutional analysis of American society that helps understand political dynamics beyond stereotypes.
The book was widely discussed in the media, with appearances on Radio Radicale (September 24, 2020) and Formiche.net, and provided essential tools for understanding during one of the most polarizing electoral campaigns in American history.
"Finally a guide that explains America to Italians without simplification. Pellegrini-Bettoli uses her dual cultural perspective to illuminate the complexities of the American political system."
PRINCESS
SORAYA
OF AFGHANISTAN
Princess Soraya of Afghanistan
Official biography (working title)
The official biography of Princess Soraya Malek, granddaughter of King Amanullah and Queen Soraya Tarzi, reformist sovereigns who reigned over Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929 promoting women's rights, education, and modernization of the country.
Born in exile in Rome, where the Afghan royal family took refuge after the 1929 coup, Princess Soraya represents the second generation of Afghan sovereigns in Italy and continues the reformist legacy of her grandparents, committed to promoting the dignity and rights of Afghan women.
An intimate and historical account that weaves together the memory of a dynasty, the experience of exile, and the commitment to a free and democratic Afghanistan.
More details will be announced soon
Title to be announced
Autobiographical thriller
A thriller based on a true story experienced by the author, interweaving Italy, United States, Middle East, and Afghanistan in an intense narrative between international suspense and personal testimony.
The novel combines autobiographical elements with thriller tension, taking the reader through events that actually happened in a context of conflict and geopolitics. A story of courage, difficult choices, and unpredictable consequences, where the line between journalism and personal involvement becomes increasingly thin.
Set between Rome, Washington, the Middle East, and Afghan territories, the story explores the gray areas of war, identity, and survival, offering a unique look at events that profoundly marked the author's life and the fate of those around her.
Final title and further details will be revealed soon
Book Presentations and Speaking Events
I am available for book presentations, talks, and panel discussions on Middle East and international politics.
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