'Heidi' (1881) is a novel written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. It is one of the best-selling books of all time, not only a defining work of Swiss literature, but a beloved masterpiece of children's fiction. When an aunt drops five-year-old Heidi off to live with her grandfather in the Alps-the two of them alone in a small hut on a hill-she's initially very lonely. Soon, however, she comes to appreciate her new, simple life; she loves walking through the pastures with her friend Peter the goatherd and spending quiet time with her grandfather. Three years later, Heidi's aunt returns to take her to the town to become a companion for Clara, a sick little girl of a wealthy family. But even though Heidi bonds with Clara and brings new life to the household, she becomes more and more homesick and wants desperately to return to her grandfather.
Since its original publication in Switzerland in 1880, Johanna Spyri's classic story has delighted generations of children. The book has been translated into more than fifty languages and has sold over fifty million copies. A classic tale of a young girl's coming-of-age, of friendship, and familial love, the story has inspired countless dramatic versions, both on TV and in film, including Shirley Temple's famous 1937 version.
