The directory «Plots»

Spyri Johanna Louise
(1827—1901)
«Heidi»

Johanna Louise Heusser was born on June 12th 1827 in Hirzel, Switzerland. Her dad's name was Johann Jacob Heusser, and she was named after him, but everybody called her «Hanni.» Johanna attended primary school in Hirzel, but was bored and didn't do very well. She liked to write poetry. Johanna's brother Theodor, who was a medical student, had a friend named Bernhard Spyri, a law student. Bernhard came up to Hirzel to visit Theodor on the weekends sometimes. Johanna ended up marrying Bernhard in 1852, when she was 25. They lived in Zurich, and Johanna was homesick for Hirzel and the countryside, and lonely in the city. In 1855 Johanna had a little son named Bernhard Diethelm. He was a very good violin player, and sometimes Johanna played along with him on the piano. In 1871 Johanna's first story, «A Leaf on Vrony's Grave» was published, but only said it was written by «J.S.». Johanna published stories for adults and children, often telling about things she remembered from her own childhood. Heidi was an immediate success when it came out. Johanna published 48 more stories, and took vacations and visited spas in the Swiss mountains, northern Italy, and Lake Geneva. Johanna died on July 7th. 1901.

German Federal Republic, 2001, Heidi and Peter

Grenada, 2000, Heidy

Grenada, 2000, Heidy

Grenada, 2000, Heidy with grandfather

Guyana, 2001, Heidi

Japan, 2012, Heidi

Switzerland, 1951, Johanna Spyri

Switzerland, 1984, Heidi and Goat

Switzerland, 2010, Heidi

German Federal Republic, 2001.06.13, Dorfchemitz. Haidy

German Federal Republic, 2001.06.13, Neubrandenburg. Haidy

Switzerland, 2010.05.06, Maienfeld. Bucket