Forget everything you think you know about 19th-century literature being slow or formal. Alexandros Papadiamantes’s Η χολεριασμένη: Τα μετά θάνατον (The Choleric One: The Posthumous) is a shot of pure, uncanny energy.

The Story

Antonis is a man defined by his temper. When he dies, that anger doesn't die with him. Instead, he becomes a restless, furious ghost bound to his family's home. He slams doors, moves objects, and generally makes life miserable for his grieving—and perhaps guilt-ridden—relatives. The plot follows their desperate attempts to understand and appease him, weaving through village gossip, Orthodox rituals, and old family tensions. Is this a punishment, a curse, or something else entirely? The story becomes a tense investigation into a man's life through the chaotic aftermath of his death.

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me wasn't just the spooky setup, but how human it all feels. Papadiamantes isn't writing a generic horror story; he's exploring a specific world. The small island setting, with its tight-knit community and deep-seated beliefs, is a character itself. The haunting feels like a natural, if extreme, extension of village life. Antonis's ghost isn't a specter in a castle—he's a nasty neighbor who won't leave, even after he's gone.

The real genius is in the ambiguity. You're left wondering who the real victim is. Is Antonis a wronged soul, or just a bully who found a way to continue his tyranny? The book sits in that uncomfortable, fascinating space between folklore and psychology, making you question how well we ever really know the people closest to us.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for readers who love character-driven stories with a dark, speculative twist. If you enjoyed the eerie family dynamics in Shirley Jackson's work or the folkloric atmosphere of Practical Magic, but want something rooted in a very specific time and place, you'll fall into this book. It’s also a brilliant, accessible entry point into Greek literature. You get a compelling story first, and a profound cultural insight as a wonderful bonus. Just be warned: you might start listening for strange noises in your own house after you put it down.