Overview of the literature about American autochthones (Indians) published in Lithuania: from adventure novels to spiritual development literature

Abstract

This article provides an overview of fiction and educational literature on North and South American autochthones published in Lithuania from the 19th century to the present. The author reconstructs the genre‘s emergence in Lithuanian literature, emphasizing its roots in Vilnius during the Romantic era. The study explores the genre‘s connections to the broader sociocultural and political context, asserting its unique impact on Lithuanian literature and children‘s socialization. Notably, this genre, characterized by active practice (it is arguably the only literary genre that was “practiced”) served as a metaphorical window to the West during the Soviet occupation (1944–1990). The article analyzes the typology of such publications in Lithuania, elucidating the selection criteria, evolving publishing trends, and societal reception and significance.