Who is Heidi? Exploring the myth behind the Swiss miss -

'Heidi' is one of the best-selling works of children's fiction. The novel, published in 1880, was written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. The story involves a young orphan who is sent to the Alps to live with her grandfather. The premise is simple enough, but the book's underlying themes explore jealousy, mental illness, physical disability, and religious conservatism. Despite these controversial elements, 'Heidi' endures as an example of classic literature aimed at youngsters, its heartwarming tale, Spyri's vivid descriptions of pristine mountain pastures, and Heidi's simple life serving to override the narrative's darker side. In fact, 'Heidi' has won new audiences over the years with several film and television screen adaptations, animated series, and an entire tourist industry built around the location in which the book is set. So, why is the girl of the Alps so popular?

Click through and explore the cult and myth behind this Swiss miss.

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A best-selling children's book -

'Heidi' is one of the best-selling books ever written. A work of children's fiction, it was first published in the German language in 1880–81 as two volumes.

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Johanna Spyri (1827–1901) -

The book was written by Johanna Spyri, a Swiss author of novels, notably children's stories. She completed the novel in four weeks.

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A brief synopsis -

The title character is a five-year-old orphan who is sent by her aunt Dete to the Swiss mountains to live with her grumpy paternal grandfather.

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The story develops -

Heidi's cheerfulness and good nature endears her to her new neighbors, including Peter, a young goatherd, and his blind maternal grandmother.

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A new chapter -

Three years later, Dete returns to the mountain village and takes Heidi to Frankfurt to be educated by the wealthy Sesemann family. In return, she will serve as a companion for their invalid daughter, Klara.

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A new chapter -

Unfortunately, Heidi does not get along with the Sesemanns' strict housekeeper, Fräulein Rottenmeier, and becomes ill and desperately homesick for the mountains.

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Reconciliation -

She eventually returns to her village to a joyous welcome. Her faith in God encourages her grandfather to attend church with Heidi, and by doing so reconnects with village life. Klara later visits and to everyone's amazement learns to walk again, having grown strong on mountain air and goat's milk.

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The many languages of Heidi -

Between 1882 and 1959, 13 distinct English translations were produced, five by British translators and eight by American translators.

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'Heidi' on the big screen -

An early film adaptation of the novel was the American musical drama 'Heidi,' released in 1937. The movie stars Shirley Temple as the titular orphan.

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'Heidi' (1937) -

The picture is loosely based on Johanna Spyri's children's book. Danish-American actor Jean Hersholt portrayed Heidi's grandfather.

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'Heidi' (1937) -

Temple acted alongside fellow child actor Delmar Watson, who played Peter, the goatherd.

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Heidi at home -

The Shirly Temple picture did wonders for book sales in the United States, with kids suddenly made aware of Heidi and the novel's alpine setting. Here, a group of American youngsters are seen reading the book aloud.

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'Heidi' (1952) -

In 1952 the German-language film 'Heidi' brought to the big screen a more faithful adaptation of the novel. Starring Elsbeth Sigmund as the titular character, the movie was shot in Zurich and on location in the Swiss Alps.

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'Heidi' (1952) -

The picture was directed by Italian filmmaker Luigi Comencini, seen here setting up a scene with the cast. Dubbed into several languages, 'Heidi' was a success in Europe, winning the 1953 Grand Prix Venice Special Award. The film was also well-received in the United States.

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'Heidi and Peter' (1955) -

The 1952 feature film spawned a sequel, 'Heidi and Peter.' Elsbeth Sigmund reprised her role as Heidi, as did Heinrich Gretler as the grandfather. Again shot on location, this was the first Swiss film made in color and was one of the biggest grossing films in Switzerland for the year.

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'Heidi' (1968) -

In 1968 an American made-for-television film version of the novel became one of the most notorious screen adaptations ever broadcast. Starring Jennifer Edwards as Heidi and Michael Redgrave as Grandfather, the film premiered on November 17, 1968, and interrupted a game between the American Football League's two top teams—the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

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History is made -

With just 65 seconds left to play, NBC cut away from the game to screen the previously scheduled 'Heidi.' At that point the Jets were leading 32-29. What happened next went down in football history.

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Heidi Bowl -

The Oakland Raiders took the lead with a touchdown by halfback Charlie Smith. The Jets then fumbled a kickoff to gift the Raiders' Preston Ridlehuber another touchdown. Oakland had scored twice in nine seconds to clinch the game 43-32. But nobody outside the Oakland Coliseum actually saw any of this. Instead, outraged sports fans were presented with the opening credits of a brand-new screen version of Johanna Spyri's novel. The game today is known somewhat cynically as the "Heidi Bowl."

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'Heidi, Girl of the Alps' (1974) -

In 1974 a Japanese anime television series titled 'Heidi, Girl of the Alps' elevated the tale of the little orphan girl into a global phenomenon. The series subsequently found additional audiences in other parts of Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Arab world, and South Africa, and was dubbed into at least 20 languages. Heidi's cult status in Japan is such that in this photo, taken in 2010, an actress portraying an unsmiling Fräulein Rottenmeier at Café Rottenmeier—named after the book's disciplinary housekeeper—is seen taking part in the Tokyo Festival for Contemporary Stage. Patrons are greeted with a terse "welcome home" by the grim-faced woman before being scolded for slouching in chairs or for not removing their coats.

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'Heidi' (1974) -

In the same year, 1974, the BBC screened a television miniseries adaptation of 'Heidi' starring Emma Blake in the title role. Dame Flora Robson and South African Hans Meyer actor costarred.

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'Heidi' (1978) -

And in 1978 television audiences in Switzerland and Germany were treated to their own miniseries with 'Heidi,' starring Austrian actress Katia Polletin and Luxembourg-born René Deltgen as Grandfather. The series was later dubbed into various languages, including English.

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'Courage Mountain' (1990) -

While it served as a sequel to Johanna Spyri's novel, 'Courage Mountain' effectively updated the Heidi character by setting the story during the outbreak of the First World War. Juliette Caton portrayed a teenaged Heidi, while Charlie Sheen was cast as Peter. Czech-Canadian actor Jan Rubeš played Grandfather.

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'Heidi, bienvenida a casa' (2017–2019) -

Argentinian actress and singer Chiara Francia embraced the role of Heidi in the telenovela 'Heidi, bienvenida a casa.' A co-Argentinian-Italian production, this Spanish-language take on the cherished children's story proved a big hit across Latin America.

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Heidi in animation -

The story of Heidi has long been a subject favored by animators. Besides the 1974 hit anime series 'Heidi, Girl of the Alps,' she has been seen in cartoon form in 'Heidi's Song' (1982), 'Heidi' (1995), 'Heidi' (2005), and in 2015's 'Heidi,' a CGI remake of the 1974 anime series.

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Maienfeld, Switzerland -

'Heidi' is set in the idyllic Swiss Alps, in and around the village of Maienfeld in the Canton of Graubünden.

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Heididorf -

In fact Maienfeld is better known as Heididorf—"Heidi Village." A 300-year-old Swiss chalet (pictured) is where author Johanna Spyri selected as the place where Heidi was born and part-raised.

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Heidi's House -

Elsewhere in the village is Heidi's House. It's a replica of the hut where she spent her summers with her grandfather. The house is a hugely popular visitor attraction, especially with Japanese and South Korean tourists.

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The visitor experience -

Inside, tourists are greeted by an interior designed as it would have looked in the fictional character's day. Use of modern interactive audio-visual techniques enhance the visitor experience. Heididorf itself welcomes more than 150,000 Heidi fans every year.

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Cultural currency -

Heidi's cultural currency extends to a special commemorative CHF 50 Swiss franc coin minted in 2001 depicting the character herding a goat.

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Sweet taste of success -

Switzerland's chocolate enjoy a well-deserved reputation as being among the highest quality candy in the world. No wonder then that Heidi has found herself promoting brands of milk chocolate!

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Stamp of approval -

And what better way to promote the Heidi story than by reproducing her image on a postage stamp, affixed to parcels and letters mailed around the globe.

Sources: (Britannica) (Biblio) (History) (Swiss National Museum) (Heididorf Maienfeld)

See also: Why you need to visit Switzerland

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