Beginning with the 1682 publication of Mary Rowlandson's autobiographical story
of her kidnapping and captivity in King Philip's War in Massachusetts, this
genre of literature focused on the capture of American white settlers -- often
women or children -- by Indians. The books were popular through the end of
the nineteenth century.
The slave narratives of the 19th century had many
resonances with the Indian captivity narrative, though there were also
significant differences.
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