Elena Maria Vidal
Encyclopedia
Elena Maria Vidal is a historical novelist and noted blogger
living in Easton, Maryland
. She was born in Florence, Oregon
and grew up in Frederick, Maryland
. She is known for her defense of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette by means of her novels Trianon and Madame Royale and her Tea at Trianon blog.
in Frederick, Maryland
with a BA
in Psychology
, and in 1985 from the State University of New York at Albany with an MA
in Modern European History.
tells of the life and death of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. In 2000, the sequel Madame Royale was published, as well as the second edition of Trianon, by The Neumann Press. Madame Royale chronicles the life of Marie-Antoinette's daughter, Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte. In 2010, the third edition of Trianon and the second edition of Madame Royale were released. In November 2009, The Night's Dark Shade was published by Mayapple Books. The new historical novel deals with the controversial Albigensian Crusade
in thirteenth century France
. Vidal has been a contributor to Canticle Magazine, Touchstone Magazine
, The American Conservative
and The National Observer. She blogs at Tea at Trianon.
. She has worked as an elementary school teacher and private tutor. In 2006, Vidal was interviewed by Doug Keck on the EWTN Bookmark show. In April 2009 she was a speaker at the Eucharistic Convention in Auckland, New Zealand. In August 2010 Vidal spoke at The Catholic Writers Conference in Valley Forge, PA. In October 2010 she was presented to His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Imre of Austria and to His Imperial Highness Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza
in York, PA. Vidal is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild and the Eastern Shore Writers Association. In 2011, Vidal interviewed David Chambers, the grandson of ex-Communist spy Whittaker Chambers, published in the The American Conservative
(USA) and The National Observer
(Australia). In August, 2011 Vidal became a reviewer for the Historical Novels Review, the journal of the Historical Novel Society.
is Mary-Eileen Russell. She is the daughter of the late John Charles Laughland and of Alice Strong Laughland. Among her cousins are British journalist John Laughland
and Canadian novelist Jennifer Lanthier. Vidal's great-grandfather was the socialist politician
James Vint Laughland. She is also the cousin of actress and comedienne Norma Jean Riddick.
In 1986, Vidal joined the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
. She briefly explored the religious life by entering a Carmelite monastery
in the late 1980s. She has described a trip to Lourdes, France in 1994 and a trip to Austria
in 1995 as influencing her decision to write historical fiction. In November 1996, Vidal married businessman Michael J. Russell. She currently lives in Maryland with her family and is working on a historical novel about her Irish ancestors.
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
living in Easton, Maryland
Easton, Maryland
Easton, founded 1710, is a town within the Easton District of Talbot County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,708 at the 2000 census, and 14,677 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Talbot County. The primary ZIP Code is 21601, and the...
. She was born in Florence, Oregon
Florence, Oregon
Florence is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 8,466.-History:The Florence area was originally inhabited by the Siuslaw tribe of Native Americans. Some state that the city was named for state senator A. B...
and grew up in Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
. She is known for her defense of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette by means of her novels Trianon and Madame Royale and her Tea at Trianon blog.
Education
Vidal graduated in 1984 from Hood CollegeHood College
Hood College is a co-educational liberal arts college located in Frederick, Maryland. The college serves approximately 1,050 graduate students and more than 1,400 undergraduate students.-Early History :...
in Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, and in 1985 from the State University of New York at Albany with an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Modern European History.
Publications
In 1997 Vidal's first historical novel Trianon was published by St. Michaels Press. The historical novelHistorical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
tells of the life and death of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. In 2000, the sequel Madame Royale was published, as well as the second edition of Trianon, by The Neumann Press. Madame Royale chronicles the life of Marie-Antoinette's daughter, Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte. In 2010, the third edition of Trianon and the second edition of Madame Royale were released. In November 2009, The Night's Dark Shade was published by Mayapple Books. The new historical novel deals with the controversial Albigensian Crusade
Albigensian Crusade
The Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade was a 20-year military campaign initiated by the Catholic Church to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc...
in thirteenth century France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Vidal has been a contributor to Canticle Magazine, Touchstone Magazine
Touchstone Magazine
Touchstone Magazine is a bimonthly publication of the Fellowship of St. James. It is subtitled A Journal of Mere Christianity, which replaced A Journal of Ecumenical Orthodoxy.-Biography:...
, The American Conservative
The American Conservative
The American Conservative is a monthly U.S. opinion magazine published by Ron Unz. Its first editor was Scott McConnell, his successors being Kara Hopkins and the present incumbent, Daniel McCarthy....
and The National Observer. She blogs at Tea at Trianon.
Career
In May 1984 Vidal was a student delegate at the Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference in Annapolis, MarylandAnnapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. She has worked as an elementary school teacher and private tutor. In 2006, Vidal was interviewed by Doug Keck on the EWTN Bookmark show. In April 2009 she was a speaker at the Eucharistic Convention in Auckland, New Zealand. In August 2010 Vidal spoke at The Catholic Writers Conference in Valley Forge, PA. In October 2010 she was presented to His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Imre of Austria and to His Imperial Highness Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza
Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza
Prince Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza is a member of the Imperial House of Brazil. According to the disputed claims of the Vassouras branch of the family, he is first in the line of succession to the defunct Brazilian throne, and consequently the current Prince Imperial of Brazil.-Biography:The...
in York, PA. Vidal is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild and the Eastern Shore Writers Association. In 2011, Vidal interviewed David Chambers, the grandson of ex-Communist spy Whittaker Chambers, published in the The American Conservative
The American Conservative
The American Conservative is a monthly U.S. opinion magazine published by Ron Unz. Its first editor was Scott McConnell, his successors being Kara Hopkins and the present incumbent, Daniel McCarthy....
(USA) and The National Observer
National Observer
The National Observer was a weekly American newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company from 1962 until 1977. Hunter S. Thompson wrote several articles for the National Observer as the correspondent for Latin America early in his career....
(Australia). In August, 2011 Vidal became a reviewer for the Historical Novels Review, the journal of the Historical Novel Society.
Personal life and family
"Elena Maria Vidal" is a nom-de-plume chosen to honor her Spanish grandmother; Vidal's legal nameLegal name
Legal name is the name that an individual is given at birth and/or recognized by a government or other legal entity, or which appears on a birth certificate , marriage certificate , or other government issued document on which a legal name change is evidenced and...
is Mary-Eileen Russell. She is the daughter of the late John Charles Laughland and of Alice Strong Laughland. Among her cousins are British journalist John Laughland
John Laughland
John Laughland is a British eurosceptic conservative journalist, academic and author who writes on international affairs and political philosophy.-Career:...
and Canadian novelist Jennifer Lanthier. Vidal's great-grandfather was the socialist politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
James Vint Laughland. She is also the cousin of actress and comedienne Norma Jean Riddick.
In 1986, Vidal joined the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites
The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites , officially Ordo Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Saecularis, and formerly known as the Third Secular Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and of the Holy Mother Saint Teresa of Jesus, is an association in the Roman Catholic Church, with lay persons...
. She briefly explored the religious life by entering a Carmelite monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in the late 1980s. She has described a trip to Lourdes, France in 1994 and a trip to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in 1995 as influencing her decision to write historical fiction. In November 1996, Vidal married businessman Michael J. Russell. She currently lives in Maryland with her family and is working on a historical novel about her Irish ancestors.