The Murderess
The Murderess by Alexandros Papadiamantis, published by New York Review of Books on June 15, 2010, is a poignant exploration of crime and punishment set against the backdrop of the impoverished Aegean island of Skiathos. This edition, comprising 144 pages in English, presents the story of Hadoula, an elderly woman who exists on the fringes of society. With knowledge of herbs and the hidden struggles of women, Hadoula grapples with the harsh realities of life, particularly the burdens faced by women in her community.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into the psychological complexities of Hadoula’s character as she confronts the grim fate of being born a woman. The novella unfolds with a blend of dark beauty and haunting themes, reflecting the societal constraints and personal tragedies that define the lives of its characters. Peter Levi’s translation captures the essence of Papadiamantis’s original work, ensuring that the emotional depth and literary quality resonate with contemporary audiences. This edition invites readers to engage with the intricate interplay of crime and societal expectations within a richly depicted setting.
Official synopsis Publisher
The Murderess is a bone-chilling tale of crime and punishment with the dark beauty of a backwoods ballad. Set on the dirt-poor Aegean island of Skiathos, it is the story of Hadoula, an old woman living on the margins of society and at the outer limits of respectability. Hadoula knows about herbs and their hidden properties, and women come to her when they need help. She knows women’s secrets and she knows the misery of their lives, and as the book begins, she is trying to stop her new-born granddaughter from crying so that her daughter can at last get a little sleep. She rocks the baby and rocks her and then the terrible truth hits her: there’s nothing worse than being born a woman, and there’s something that she, Hadoula, can do about that.
Peter Levi’s matchless translation of Alexandros Papadiamantis’s astonishing novella captures the excitement and haunting poetry of the original Greek.
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