Alexandros Papadiamantis is considered to have produced the best sketches of popular characters. He was born on the island of Skiathos in 1851 and his father was Adamantios Korais, a priest, and his mother''s name was Agheliki and she was the daughter of Alex. Moraitidis. After his death, his short stories have been published in numerous volumes: "Christmas Short Stories", "Easter Short Stories", "New Year''s Short Stories", "The Merchants of Nations", "The Gipsy Girl", "The Murderess", "The Witches", "The Rosy Seashores", "The Homesick Wife", "The Lazy Boy''s Christmas". Apart from writing, he also worked as a translator. He died in 1911 in Skiathos, the island where he was born.
The short story "Christ in the Castle", written by Alexandros Papadiamantis, is one of the best Christmas short stories. In this short story, as in all the others included in the book, one can recognize what Papadiamantis loves most; his birthplace, the island of Skiathos with its natural beauties, the rocks, the seagulls, the waves, the uphill paths and the cliffs. And even more the simple and humble islanders with their traditions and customs; their superstitions, their weaknesses, their slyness, their labours and worries. And last but not least, one can see his love about religion, the old country churches, the priests and the religious ceremonies. |
