Author. He is recognized worldwide for several novels, children's books, and short story collections, which he wrote under various pennames such as A. Cvingelis, Cezaris Petrėnas, J. K. Pavilionis, K. Cvirka, Kanapeikus, Kazys Gerutis, Klangis, Klangis Petras, Klangių Petras, L. P. Cvirka, Laumakys, P. Cvinglis, P. Cvirka-Rymantas, P. Gelmė, P. Veliuoniškis, Petras Serapinas, and S. Laumakys. His works have been translated into Belarusian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, English, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Polish, Romanian, and Uzbek. A poem published in a 1924 magazine was his first accomplishment; this was followed in 1928 by a book of poems, “The Mass”. Then he published in 1934 a satirical two-volume novel, “Frank Kruk”; in 1935 a novel based on the Lithuanian peasant’s life, “The Beautiful Land”; and in 1936 a novel based on Lithuanian folklore, “Master and Son”. He produced collections of short stories, such as “Everyday Stories” in 1938, “Oak Roots” in 1945, and in 1947 “Seeds of Brotherhood”, which can be found online in English in the book’s entirety. His other works include, in addition to the folktales collected under the title “Tales from the Neman Region” in 1948, literary sketches, humorous stories, pamphlets, stories for children, and articles about literature. His writings were edited by him or the government when translated to conform to communist ideology; some more than others. A son of peasants, his father, Kazimieras Cvirka, died in 1922 leaving his mother with five young children; he was the oldest. A childhood of poverty was difficult to overcome, yet he was determined to be educated. He studied at the Kaunas Art School from 1926 to 1930 and later literature in Paris. While in Paris, he translated over forty books into Lithuanian. Since 1940, he was a member of the Union of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic Writers, and from 1940 to 1941 he was a chairman of its organizing committee. During World War II, he escaped his war-worn homeland for a couple of years to live in Moscow joining the Russian Union of Writers supporting the Soviet Union’s political ideas. From 1945 to 1947, he was the Chairman of the Board of Union of Lithuanian Social Republic Writer. During this period, he edited the magazine "Pergalė” or “Victory”. At the age of 38 years old, he simply walked in a Vilnius hospital in the middle of the night with an upset stomach and died shortly afterwards. No cause of death is documented. In 1959 a postage stamp was issued in his honor on what would been his 50th birthday. There are many editions of his works, documentary films about his life, and volumes have been written about him and his writings. There is statue of him in Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, which was erected by the Soviet government, and at least ten towns have streets named after him. His birthplace museum is open for tourists; his books, especially the early ones and those written for children, are still printed. Celebrations of his 100th birthday in 2009 included scholarly conferences and exhibits. An award for literature, which is presented in his honor, is given annually to a worthy writer. Although he never traveled to America, “Frank Kruk”, his most successful novel, is about a Lithuanian man, who traveled to America encountering for the first time greed and organized crime. Recently, this novel was made into a successful play with the actor who played “Frank” receiving a Lithuanian national acting award. A popular Lithuanian rap song mentions him and his life.