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Heidi
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Heidi Hardcover - 2009

by Johanna Spyri

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

BCR's Shelf2Life Charter Collection is a unique opportunity for modern readers to experience antique volumes in a new format. All the titles in the collection are pre-1923 monographs that have been selected from the shelves of libraries, cultural heritage institutions or other reputable collectors. By bringing these volumes out of the stacks and making them available in print-on-demand and digital formats, the Shelf2Life project hopes to open these books up to new readers and new generations. With content as varied as historic mountaineering, trains and railroads and the American Civil War, these books are certain to find a new audience among historians, collectors and even hobbyists interested in traditional bookbinding, publishing and typesetting. Access to these works is an important tool to understanding our past and the people, events and experiences of our collective culture.

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
  • Author Johanna Spyri
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Pages 372
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher BCR (Bibliographical Center for Research)
  • Date 2009-12
  • ISBN 9781117589770 / 1117589773
  • Weight 1.9 lbs (0.86 kg)
  • Dimensions 10 x 7 x 0.88 in (25.40 x 17.78 x 2.24 cm)
  • Ages 09 to 12 years
  • Grade levels 4 - 7
  • Reading level 1000
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

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