Kauno sunkiųjų darbų kalėjimo (1919–1940 m.) vaizdinys lietuvių grožinėje literatūroje
The Image of Hard Labour in Kaunas Prison (1919–1940) in Lithuanian Fiction

Summary/Abstract: The article reveals the depiction of Kaunas hard labour prison (1919–1940) in Lithuanian fiction and assesses its realism. The first chapter focuses on descriptions of the location of the prison and the appearance of the building. These are fragmentary, but quite accurate and realistic. The second chapter analyses and summarises hints about the interior of the prison, the living conditions of the prisoners and their daily experiences; the third contains information on the work of prisoners, wardens and their behaviour towards prisoners. The depiction of these spheres is often at odds with documentary, memoir and other sources, and is rather superficial, sometimes even "twisted". Novels and novellas published during the Soviet period (1940–1989) are particularly characterised by distortions of reality and negative propaganda bias. However, even if we look at the entire spectrum of Lithuanian literature, we can conclude that prison is usually portrayed as a mysterious, oppressive, frightening place, filled with physical and moral suffering.

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