JOHANA SPYRI
Swiss author (1827-1901)
Biography:
Johanna Heuser was born on 12th July 1827 in Hirtzel, Switzerland, the forth of six children. His father was a rural doctor. When she married Berhard Spyri, lawyer and editor, they both moved to Zurich, where she published her first novel, Ein Blatt auf Vronys Grab (A Leaf from Vrony's Grave, 1870). Many other novels very published, but she became sucessful among children thanks to Heidi (1880-1881).
Johana Spyri and Heidi:
In 1880, Heidi's Lehr- und Wanderjahre (Heidi's Years of Apprenticeship and Travel) is published by F.A.Perthes in Gotha, Germany. Spyri was rather unknown by that time. In 1881, the second volume appears, titled Heidi kann brauchen, was es gelernt hat (Heidi Applies What She Has Learned). These two books have been translated to more than forty languages and over 20 million copies have been edited. There are at least seven film adaptations and a countless number of plays, radio and TV series.
Johana Spyri, author of illustrated works:
Heidi, illustrated by Maginel Wright Barney, Rand, 1921.
Heidi, illustrated by Thea Kliros, Dover Children's Thrift Classics, 1998.
Heidi, illustrated by Anne Anderson, Harrap, 1924.
Johana Spyri on the Internet:
Site devoted to Heidi.