DP, Lithuanian immigration to Canada after the Second World War

Milda Danys; Toronto: Multicultural History Society of Ontario, 1986; 365 p.

condition: great

Milda Danys has made good use of her academic background in providing an enchanting account of the 20,000 transplanted Lithuanians who came to Canada in the aftermath of World War II. Holding a doctorate in English literature, but with a strong second suit in history, the author originally set out merely to record a large number of interviews among the émigrés. Meanwhile, to her surprise, she discovered access to government records documenting this large-scale entry over the course of several years, dating from 1947. In the end, she produced a skillfully woven saga that blends official papers with the vivid, flesh-and-blood memories of two hundred men and women, most of whom she personally interviewed.

Danys' book is important not only in the bibliography of ethnic studies in her own country, but also serves as an example for parallel studies here in the States. Up to now, few academics have turned to this story, so full of dramatic episodes of the uprooted.

Lithuanian readers will be annoyed at the lack of proper orthographical signs throughout the text. Otherwise the volume is neatly printed in clear and attractive typeface. Genealogical devotees will delight over the short biographical notes identifying those who were interviewed. The book contains detailed footnotes, a bibliography, and an index.