One of the most influential Lithuanian literary figures in the first decades of the twentieth century, the Roman Catholic priest Vaizgantas was a prolific author, journalist, and political activist. Productive during the years of the national revival of Lithuania and during the period of independent Lithuania, Vaizgantas was instrumental in the early development of modern Lithuanian prose. He wrote in a variety of forms and often merged genres, creating a nontraditional body of work.

Vaizgantas was born Juozas Tumas on 20 September 1869 in Maleisiai to Anupras Tumas, a farmer, and Severija Grizaitę-Tumienę. His mother later became the prototype of many of his female protagonists. Vaizgantas grew up with one brother and three sisters. From 1879 to 1881 he attended Kunigiskiai Primary School, and from 1881 to 1888 he continued his studies at the Daugpilis Secondary School in Russian-ruled Latvia, where he first became interested in literature after reading the works...