Alexandros Papadiamantis from Skiathos

Alexandros Papadiamantis was born in Skiathos on March 4th, 1851. He was the son of the priest Adamantios Emmanouil and a woman named Angeliki, and the third in a family of six kids. He completed primary school and the first two grades of high school in Skiathos. Later, he would attend school in Skopelos and thereafter in Piraeus before finally graduating from Varvakio High School of Athens in 1874. In the same year, he enrolled in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Athens but never completed his studies. During this period, he composed his first lyrical poem in memory of his mother.

In 1879, his novel The Emigrant was printed in installments in the Constantinopolitan newspaper "Neologos". In 1882, he published The Merchants of the Nations, a poignant story centered around the lives of devout Aegean islanders caught in the wake of ruthless medieval crusaders. At the same time, he was also working as a translator for various Athenian newspapers. In 1892, he started working as a full-time correspondent for the "Akropolis" newspaper.

From 1902 to 1904, Papadiamantis moved to his beloved homeland, Skiathos, and published his most famous novel The Murderess. In this novel, a grandmother strangles her baby granddaughter to save her from a miserable life, at a time when women were treated as second-class citizens in a male-dominated society. Choleriasmeni, Pentarfanos, The Dead Traveler, and The Nostalgic are among some of his other popular works. In total, he wrote three books, three novels, and over 180 short stories. After another short stint in Athens, he returned to Skiathos where he lived for the remainder of his life. On January 3rd, 1911, he passed away after suffering from pneumonia.

Papadiamantis lived a simple and reserved life. He never married and had a small circle of friends, which included notable literary names like Pavlos Nirvanas, Giannis Vlachogiannis, and his cousin, Alexandros Moraitidis. He would often attend the Church of Agios Elissaios in Monastiraki and visit the local cafes, sitting alone and observing the world around him. His love for Skiathos and its native people was evident in most of his writing, which often highlighted the lives of ordinary people and the societal struggles they faced. He found his themes in the morals, beliefs, customs, and superstitions that prevailed in his time.

Today, his childhood home in Skiathos Town has been bought by the Greek State and turned into a museum. Known as the House of Papadiamantis, it celebrates the life of the iconic writer, while also showcasing the traditional architecture of the island and the everyday lives of its inhabitants during the 19th century. His works majorly shaped the country’s modern literary canon and have permeated through popular culture, being adopted into stage plays, musical performances, and films.