The Murderess

The Murderess (sometimes found as Fonissa; Ἡ Φόνισσα) is a 1903 social novel by Greek writer Alexandros Papadiamantis. Written in the Greek katharevousa, it consists of 17 chapters and was originally published in pieces in the magazine Panathenaea from January to June 1903. The book was first published in 1912 containing five more Papadiamantis' works. A classic of Modern Greek literature, the novel has been a subject to both philological and criminological analysis. It has been praised for its use of the literary Greek language, its social commentary, as well as the unique way of introducing the reader to the criminal's psyche.

Set on the Aegean island of Skiathos, the novel narrates the story of Hadoula, an old woman living on the margins of society who accidentally strangles her infant granddaughter while attempting to stop her crying. Having lived a life in poverty and struggles, Hadoula concludes that she had, in fact, saved the baby and her family from the miseries of a woman's life. Despite the early promptings of her conscience and slowly driven into madness, the protagonist commits herself to bringing the same salvation to all the young girls of her community.