Elena Russo, Author at

Author name: Elena Russo

I've always believed that history is found in the dirt beneath our fingernails, not just the marble of grand statues. I am a completely independent European History researcher, and I spend most of my days digging through physical archives and translating primary sources from their original languages. I'm endlessly fascinated by the visceral realities of the Renaissance and the untold daily struggles of medieval citizens. When I'm not writing my initial drafts by hand (usually by candlelight because I'm stubborn about ambiance!), you'll find me fiercely defending the nuanced legacies of figures like Machiavelli. My passion is to strip away the academic jargon and bring the cobblestone streets of the past vividly back to life for you.

Painting of the Cadaver Synod, a dead Pope on trial.

The Pope on Trial: How a Corpse Ended Up in Court

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The stench of incense and rot filled the basilica. On a throne sat the accused, draped in the magnificent silk of a Roman Pontiff, the sacred tiara resting on his head. Before him, the prosecutor paced, his voice a shriek that echoed off the vaulted ceilings, hurling accusations of ambition, perjury, and illegal usurpation. But […]

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