Living on the island of Skiathos in the late nineteenth century, Ma-Hadoula, who may truly be likened to a figure from an ancient tragedy, is made constantly aware of the harsh fate awaiting young girls born into her traditional island community. She revolts against the social conventions of her day and against her God and is led to commit the most hideous of crimes. Against the background of village life and the natural beauty of the island, Papadiamandis explores the psychology and conscience of this woman in a work that is characterized by a moral tension reminiscent of the works of Dostoyevsky.

Generally recognized as one of the foremost Greek prose writers of the modern period, Alexandros Papadiamandis holds a special place in the history of modern Greek letters, but also in the heart of the ordinary Greek reader. His novel, The Murderess, is perhaps his finest work and is rightly regarded as a landmark work in modern Greek literature.