How Wiseli Was Provided For

by Johanna Spyri, Louise Brooks (Translator)

Johanna Spyri's first book -- entitled A Leaf on Vrony's Grave -- was published in 1871. A year later she published a great pile of tales for both adults and children, among them the tale of Heidi that became an instant and enduring success. Heidi, the story of an orphan girl who lives with her grandfather in the Alps, is not only famous for its vivid portrayal of the landscape but also for its understanding of how children see life and their feelings.

This book, How Wiseli Was Provided For, is yet another in Spyri's library of tales. Like all others, it's a story not to be missed.

108 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2005

About the author

Johanna Spyri was a Swiss author of children's stories, best known for Heidi. Born Johanna Louise Heusser in the rural area of Hirzel, Switzerland, as a child she spent several summers in the area around Chur in Graubünden, the setting she later would use in her novels.

Reviews

[Zeta T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phew! It starts with a great gossipy session with some fun adults after the, also fun, kids go to bed. I thought, "Finally! A kick back book." Nope! Wiseli's history, particular her Mum, is a weird and sour story. Tragedy hits as assuredly as an episode of "Little House on The Prairie". Having read other Spyri books that throw this doozy I was surprised to still be captivated, but that first bit with the great neighbours got me caring about the people. Not all the neighbours are nice, and when Wiseli's Mum fades away, Wiseli is taken in hand by the kind uncle who somehow so often has the nasty wife and kids. Of course, these latter are abusive and overtaxing to our protagonist upon the very MOMENT of her loss, and never cease, minus the occasional sheltering by the kind uncle.

Due to the past alliances we learned about during the gossip session with the good neighbours, as well as their own part in this tale, things take a turn for the hopeful during the strained time Wiseli must remain with relatives who'd really prefer she wasn't around. I must admit that how things change is a particularly grim set of events, more so than I may have encountered in other works of Spyri, so it became a page-turner at that point.

Also, as with many of Johanna Spyri's books, the religious relevance does show up in this story but not quite as heavily as in her others. In fact, the book winds up with a fable element: a thing which Wiseli learns to practically apply in the here and now.

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as part of the collection Heimatlos aka Rico and Wisely.

[Janice]

This book, How Wiseli Was Provided For, is yet another in Spyri's library of tales. Like all others, it's a story not to be missed.