Heidi by Johanna Soyri

By Al R. Young

The folklore of Switzerland is riddled with tales and ballads of Swiss natives, parted from their homeland, who die from no less a cause than pure home-sickness. Out of this fictional fray and straight into the heart comes Johanna Spyri's Heidi, to convince us not only that these tales are true, but to explain why.

The charm of alpine meadows and sunsets, of sleeping in a loft of hay, of the curative powers of goat's milk and black bread all come alive in this wonderful book. Heidi, as natural and direct as her homeland, is a real and sympathetic character from start to finish. We rejoice and pine with her, and marvel at her ability for unbounded love.