Captivity Narratives

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.