Renée Gaudin de Villaine Maud

Born Renée Gaudin de Villaine in 1879, she later wrote as Renée Elton Maud. She is best known for One Year at the Russian Court: 1904-1905, a memoir published in 1918 that draws on her own experiences in Russia during the last years of the imperial era.

Her book stands out because it is not just about famous figures at the top of society. It also captures the routines, customs, journeys, and conversations that shaped everyday court life, giving readers a personal view of a world that would soon disappear.

Very little biographical information was easy to confirm beyond her birth name, date, and authorship of this memoir. Even so, her writing remains valuable for readers interested in Russia, European high society, and eyewitness accounts from the early twentieth century.