Additional information
by Rosary O'Neill Phd (Author), Rory O'Neill Schmitt Phd (Author)
The Blood of the Baroness mines the world of the bizarre, tapestried Baroness of Pontalba. A woman grown fierce from fighting terror outside and inside the family--and the proud, tortured, exotic men who betrayed her. The authors, sixth- and seventh-generation New Orleanians, bring you up close to the formidable heiress of nineteenth-century New Orleans and France. Inspired by documented events--and a shocking attempted murder--this historical novel blends meticulous research with the propulsive pacing of a psychological thriller.
The authors, Dr. O'Neill and Dr. Schmitt, reexamine the Baroness through a bold, contemporary lens. They dare to ask: What if? From the marble altars of St. Louis Cathedral--built by the Baroness's father twice--to the gilded salons of France, readers follow the evolution of the infant heiress from a fifteen-year-old bride to wife, mother, brutality survivor, and ultimately a visionary businesswoman. Her iconic Pontalba Apartments still anchor Jackson Square.
Perfect for readers of historical fiction, literary thrillers, and stories of complex, powerful heroes, The Blood of the Baroness invites audiences to step inside the corseted, dangerous, and extraordinary life of the Baroness Micaëla Almonester de Pontalba.
Author Biography
Rosary O'Neill, PhD, is a senior Fulbright drama specialist and winner of nine Fulbright awards, including five to study Edgar Degas in Paris. She has published nineteen plays, six play/screenplay anthologies, three novels, and seven books. A professor emerita at Loyola University, New Orleans, she has received artist residencies at the Norman Mailer Institute, National Arts Club, NYC, the Arthur Seelen Theatre, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the Tyrone Guthrie Center in Ireland, Harvard University, Sorbonne University, the American Center, Paris, and the American Academy in Rome. Her biggest honor is writing with her daughter.
Rory O'Neill Schmitt, PhD is an author specializing in art, history, and education, and has written six books with Arcadia Publishing. Her research has been hosted by leading institutions including the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, National Gallery of Ireland. Dr. Schmitt's writing and filmmaking work have been globally recognized by the Consulate General of Ireland, the Consulate General of France, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, and the Irish Cultural Center. An award-winning filmmaker, she executive produced the Duplass Brothers Productions series, A Long Long Night. Dr. Schmitt is a Visiting Fulbright Scholar and currently leads faculty development for seven graduate programs at the University of Southern California.
