Dramatist, prose writer, translator and actor Viktoras Miliūnas was born on February 16, 1916, in Blantyre (Scotland), into the family of a mineworker and housewife. In 1921, together with his parents, he returned to Lithuania and settled in Vilkaviškis.

His first poem was published in 1930 and his first book, Šešios verpėjos (Six spinners), in 1935.

After graduating from Vilkaviškis gymnasium, he studied French language and literature at Kaunas Vytautas Magnum University and Vilnius University (from 1935 to 1941). He also attended B. Sruoga theatre seminars, published poems, short stories, outlines in the press, translated a few youth books. In 1940, he moved to Vilnius, acted in Vaidila and later, in Vilnius Drama theatres.

J. Miliūnas was torn between the positions of creator and critic. He published many articles and reviews about the republic’s theatres and their plays. Also, he created a few plays, among them Sienlaikraštis (The Newspaper on the wall), Neramūs žmonės (Fidgets), Savininkėlia“ (Owners), Į pakalnę (Downhill) and original multi-act plays Še tau, kad nori! (Well, to be sure!), Vidurdienio debesys (Midday clouds), Žuvėdros palydi (The tern’s accompaniment), Pasivaikščiojimas mėnesienoje (Promenade in a moonlight), Karuselė (Carousel), and more.

In 1968, the first selection of short stories of V. Miliūnas Pirmoji meilė, arba Nusikaltimas (The First love or Crime) was published. Later, a further six selections were published: Juoda upė (The Black river, 1970), Vestuvės Paryžiuje (Wedding in Paris, 1973), Meilė ir neapykanta (Love and hatred, 1976), Žaidimas be taisyklių (A game without rules, 1981), Piknikas Grabšto rage (Picnic in Grabštas’ headland, 1985) and Koncertas muziejuje (Concert in a museum, 1986).

Inherent in V. Miliūnas’ short stories are a colourful view of ordinary hard-working Neringa fishermen. They are simple but dramatic stories with delicate humour and intonations of the talented author. The works concentrate on the Human Being – feelings, commonness and fate.

In 1953, V. Miliūnas debuted as a children’s book writer with his work Tvirti kaip geležis (Hard as iron). His text for children can be characterizes as “poetics with pedagogical sensibility”. He took a twenty-one year break, then returned to writing with: Evalduko vasara (Evaldukas’ summer, 1974), Skrisk, žuvėdra (Fly, tern, 1980), Vienas iš trijų (One in three, 1983), Evalduko metai (Evaldukas’years, 1986) – the latter being the most mature of the author’s work for children.

Viktoras Miliūnas died on November 9, 1986, in Vilnius.

In 2005, Neringa’s municipal library was named after V. Miliūnas.