Heidi

Swiss author Johanna Spyri originally published the middle-grade fiction novel Heidi in German in two volumes in 1880. The novel quickly became a beloved classic children’s book that has since been adapted into 25 film and television versions, including a 1968 made-for-TV movie and a very popular anime series in 1974. It has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide.

Spyri was born in Hirzel, a Zurich village that shares a border with the German Rhineland. Spyri’s depiction of the idyllic, simple past of Alpine life is believed to be partially autobiographical, as she spent her summers in a village called Maienfeld. However, before Spyri’s death, she burned all her private letters and journals, leaving much of her life a mystery. In addition to Heidi, Spyri published 32 other children’s books before she died in 1901.

The source material for this guide comes from the 1956 translation from Penguin Random House UK, reissued in 2015 as a Puffin Classic edition, therefore names and wordings may vary.

Plot Summary

Dete’s sister Adelheid dies, leaving her and her mother to care for her daughter, Heidi. Dete’s mother dies as well, leaving Dete as Heidi’s sole caregiver, but she wants to take a new job in the city and can no longer care for her niece. Dete forces Heidi to hike from Dörfli up the mountain, where she will live with her grandfather, called “Uncle Alp” by the villagers.

Shunned by the townsfolk, Grandfather lives alone in a remote mountain hut. He welcomes Heidi into his modest home, and they become fast friends. Heidi begins visiting the high mountain pasture with goatherd Peter and falls in love with the landscape. Later, Heidi meets Peter’s mother and grandmother, Grannie, who is blind. Heidi begins visiting Grannie and convinces Grandfather to make some much-needed repairs to Peter’s home. Grandfather and Heidi often invite Peter to stay with them for dinner, and he is thankful since his family often does not have enough to eat.

Peter attends the village school in the winter, but after a year of living on the mountain with Grandfather, Heidi does not attend school. The schoolmaster sends the church pastor to speak with Grandfather, and he encourages him to move to Dörfli in the winter so it is easier for Heidi to attend school. Grandfather refuses. Dete returns, having secured a position in Frankfurt for Heidi to become a companion to Clara Sesemann, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, who has a physical disability and uses a wheelchair. Grandfather protests, but Dete threatens to involve the townsfolk and lies to Heidi, saying she can visit Grandfather anytime. Grandfather lets Heidi go without saying goodbye. Grandfather becomes detached and sullen and stops visiting Grannie.

When Heidi and Dete arrive in Frankfurt, the house manager, Frau Rottenmeier, finds Heidi’s youth and lack of education make her ill-suited to be Clara’s companion. Heidi becomes acquainted with Clara, and they soon become friends.

The next morning, a young servant, Sebastian, suggests Heidi find a church tower so she can see the trees. There, Heidi meets a street performer boy and the church caretaker. The caretaker gives her two kittens and promises to deliver more the next day. The street performer boy demands payment, and Heidi tells him to come to Clara’s flat.

Heidi arrives late for dinner with the kittens in her pockets. Rottenmeier, who is terrified of cats, bolts from the table and hides in her room. Sebastian takes the kittens to a safe place. When a basket of kittens arrives on the doorstep, Rottenmeier nearly faints, and Sebastian makes a home for the kittens in the attic. The street performer arrives for his payment and lets his pet tortoise loose in the study while he plays for Clara. Heidi accidentally pulls the tablecloth, sending all the table’s contents to the floor. Rottenmeier is apoplectic, and Sebastian quickly hurries the boy out the door and pays him for his services.

Clara’s father, Herr Sesemann, returns from a business trip to meet Heidi. Despite Rottenmeier’s flustered depictions of Heidi’s behavior, he believes Heidi’s presence is beneficial for Clara. Herr Sesemann leaves, and his mother, Clara’s Grandmamma, arrives for visit. She is a kind woman, and when she learns that Heidi is illiterate, she meets with her each day during Clara’s nap to read with her. With help from Clara’s tutor, Heidi learns her alphabet.

Grandmamma realizes Heidi is profoundly homesick. She encourages Heidi to pray to God for help, and Heidi prays each night. Heidi’s homesickness worsens, and she stops eating and cries into her pillow daily. When the household discovers Heidi is sleepwalking, Clara’s doctor, Dr. Classen, informs Herr Sesemann that she must return to Switzerland.

Clara sends Heidi away with nice dresses and a basket of fresh rolls for Grannie. Grandfather weeps with joy when he sees Heidi. She resumes her daily visits to Grannie and reads her hymns. Heidi shares with Grandfather the story of the prodigal son, and it moves Grandfather to pray for the first time in many years. The next day, he and Heidi attend church, and Grandfather apologizes to the pastor. He announces that he and Heidi will move to Dörfli in the winter so she can attend school.

Clara longs to visit Heidi, but her health remains poor, so Dr. Classen visits in her stead. Having recently lost his young daughter, being near Heidi and enjoying the fresh mountain air brings him comfort, and he extends his trip. Heidi teaches Peter the alphabet.

The following year, Clara and Grandmamma arrive at the hut. Clara stays with Heidi and Grandfather for a month, spending all day outside and growing stronger on goat’s milk. Soon, Clara is strong enough to take her first steps. Peter becomes jealous of Clara and shoves her wheelchair off the mountain. When Grandmamma and Herr Sesemann return, Peter confesses his wrongdoing, but everyone is so happy to see Clara’s health returned that they agree to forgive him.

Clara leaves but promises to return to Switzerland. Herr Sesemann agrees to provide for Heidi’s needs when Grandfather dies, and Heidi asks him to send her bed from Frankfurt as a gift for Grannie. Dr. Classen moves to Dörfli and shares a home with Heidi and Grandfather in the winter, and he makes Heidi his sole heir.