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Heidi: A Story for Children and Those That Love Children
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Heidi: A Story for Children and Those That Love Children Hardcover -

by Johanna Spyri; Helen B. Dole


About this book

Heidi is a classic children's book first published in 1881 in Germany by Swiss author Johanna Spyri in two parts: Heidi: Her Years of Wandering and Learning, and Heidi: How She Used What She Learned. Subtitled: "Geschichten für Kinder wie auch für Solche, Welche Kinder lieb haben von Johanna Spyri” Stories for children as well as those that love children by Johanna Spyri). It is one of the best-selling books ever written, and one of the best-known pieces of Swiss literature.

Heidi tells the story of the namesake orphan brought to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Her cheery attitude wins the heart of her grumpy grandfather, the friendship of a goatherd Peter and his family, and the friendship of Clara, an city-dwelling invalid who later regains her mobility after visiting Heidi in the mountains.

Two sequels, Heidi Grows Up and Heidi's Children, were not written by Spyri, but by her English translator, Charles Tritten. 

From the publisher

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.

We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

First Edition Identification

The first edition, published anonymously by F.A. Perthes in Gotha, Germany in two volumes, had a decorative cover but no illustrations within the books. Subsequent editions added multiple illustrations.

Louise Windsor Brooks was Heidi's first English translator, and retained the title Heidi: Her Years of Wandering and Yearning, for both volumes, published by De Wolfe, Fiske in Boston in 1884. A two volume set entitled Heidi’s Early Experiences and Heidi’s Further Experiences was published in London is 1884, but is 'virtually unattainable.'

The first complete American Edition of the one volume Heidi was published in 1885 by Cupples, Upham, & Company, in Boston. The original book is in gold cloth with the publishers catalogue at the end. 

Details

  • Title Heidi: A Story for Children and Those That Love Children
  • Author Johanna Spyri; Helen B. Dole
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Pages 384
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Franklin Classics
  • ISBN 9780341832058 / 0341832057
  • Weight 1.57 lbs (0.71 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.21 x 6.14 x 0.88 in (23.39 x 15.60 x 2.24 cm)
  • Ages 09 to 12 years
  • Grade levels 4 - 7
  • Reading level 960
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC