bluecastle (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bluecastle) wrote2009-02-22 08:33 pm
bluecastle) wrote2009-02-22 08:33 pm
Entry tags:
28 Books -- Day 22 (admittedly I've missed a few days)
Heidi by Johanna Spyri (1880)
"From the old and pleasantly situated village of Mayenfeld, a
footpath winds through green and shady meadows to the foot of
the mountains, which on this side look down from their stern and
lofty heights upon the valley below. The land grows gradually
wilder as the path ascends, and the climber has not gone far
before he begins to inhale the fragrance of the short grass and
sturdy mountain-plants, for the way is steep and leads directly
up to the summits above." (Heidi, chapter 1)
footpath winds through green and shady meadows to the foot of
the mountains, which on this side look down from their stern and
lofty heights upon the valley below. The land grows gradually
wilder as the path ascends, and the climber has not gone far
before he begins to inhale the fragrance of the short grass and
sturdy mountain-plants, for the way is steep and leads directly
up to the summits above." (Heidi, chapter 1)
Actually, it's not Heidi I want to mention but the two sequels.
I stumbled upon them, and don't often hear them talked about so, given the chance to talk them up, I'll get the word out where I can.
The two sequels, Heidi Grows Up (1938), and Heidi's Children (1939) were written by Charles Tritten, Johanna Spyri's translator.
If you just can't get enough of little black-haired (yes... black curly haired little Adelheid, to judge from the illustrations) Heidi, then keep your eye out for her further adventures. In the first sequel, she is taking her good Swiss education and teaching in the village school... in the second... well... we meet Tobias (Tobi) and Marta (Martali).
Also fun are several other less well known books by Johanna Spyri
and my favorite, Maezli (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10142/10142-h/10142-h.htm) and it's sequel Maxa's Children.
What's more fun that haunted castles and mysterious invalids?
Actually, revisiting these makes me want to re-read them all, although my copies are in various stages of crumbling-ness.
So if you haven't thought about Heidi for a while, stop in a visit with her and goat-Peter. And then check out some of Johanna Spyri's other works. They are just as charming.
P.S. -- If you need some amusement in your week, I can point the way towards this film about Heidi called Courage Mountain which features the totally improbable, and highly laughable casting of Charlie Sheen as Peter. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097115/. Siskel and Ebert both gave it a thumbs down... and Ebert says "it just goes to show that no movie with a pet goat in it is any good." On the plus side, Leslie Caron is in it as the headmistress of the school Heidi is shipped off to. If you need a good bad movie... hunt this one up!!!