Heidi

Johanna Spyri

Jan 2015 · First Avenue Editions ™

About this ebook

When Heidi's parents pass away, her aunt takes her in, but she soon sends Heidi to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. At first, Heidi's grandfather seems gruff, but over time he becomes fond of her. Heidi grows to love the mountains and spends many hours with the goats and Peter, the goatherd, until she is sent to back to the city to be a companion to Clara, an invalid, and receive an education. Heidi learns that though the people in the city have more money, the people in the country lead richer lives. This classic Swiss children's book by Johanna Spyri was published in two parts in 1880 and 1881. This unabridged version comes from a 1915 edition, translated from the original German by Elisabeth P. Stork and illustrated by Maria L. Kirk.

About the author

Johanna Spyri was born in the village of Hirzel, Switzerland on June 12, 1827. She was tutored at home and attended school both at home and in Zurich. She married Bernhard Spyri, a lawyer, in 1852 and moved to Zurich. She wrote her first story, A Leaf on Vrony's Grave, in 1871. She wrote numerous stories for both children and adults, but her most famous work was Heidi, which was published in 1880. Both her husband and son died in 1884. She spent her remaining years writing, raising her niece, and doing charity work. She died on July 7, 1901.