Heidi by Johanna Spyri is a classic of children’s fiction. The book focuses on a five-year-old girl, Heidi, who is sent to live with her estranged grandfather by her aunt in a secluded mountain hut. Heidi starts to explore the Alps surrounding her, getting along with her grandfather and making new friends. I read this book as a child and loved it, but I don’t remember many details about it. This is the reason why I picked it up again; it’s more like a nostalgic read for me.
Heidi is a five-year-old orphan. Her Aunt Dete sends her to live with her estranged grandfather in a remote village in the Swiss Alps. It is a big change for Heidi. Her grandfather is a gruff hermit and even feared by the villagers, but Heidi wins him over with her infectious joy. She starts to explore the beautiful landscape around her, spending a lot of time outdoors. This is where she makes a new friend, goat-herder Peter. Just as she is settling in, Heidi is sent to Frankfurt by her aunt to be a companion to Clara Sesemann, a wealthy girl who cannot walk.
Heidi and Clara have such a unique bond. I liked how their friendship developed; Heidi even spends time with Clara’s grandmother. In Frankfurt, she is exposed to a different world and society, but she misses her home in the Alps. When she goes back to the Alps, a lot of things change around her. Her grandfather reconciles with the villagers, and miraculously, Clara learns to walk while she is visiting Heidi in the mountains. Heidi is such a positive character; she is jovial and chirpy, making everyone around her comfortable. She has an effect on her grandfather, too, who is like a tough exterior but a heart-of-gold type of person.
The prominent theme of the book, for me, was nature versus urban life. Life in the mountains portrays the freedom, health, and even a spiritual element. Nature is represented as a healing sort of energy with lush landscapes and simple things. On the other hand, city life is draining and even restrictive to an extent, which is something that is debated to this day, around the world. There are also undercurrents of religious tone throughout the book. Clara’s grandmother talks a lot about faith and patience. I didn’t mind it, but in the story, it can seem preachy.
I liked how every character went through a change. This change was positive, and it was done in a way that brings their arc to a full circle. The story emphasizes the importance of kindness, care, and sincerity throughout the story. These aspects do have a positive impact on people, which is shown towards the end. The pacing of the book is slightly slow, because at times it feels more descriptive of the setting than the actions. Although the setting is vividly described, which helped me imagine it perfectly, it is extremely important to the story.
Heidi by Johanna Spyri is a heart-warming and comforting classic book. It’s a classic, so some elements of the era do feel outdated, especially regarding people with disability and religion. At the centre, it’s a story that is very optimistic in nature, which matches the age group it is written for, yet appeals to older readers too. Overall, I really liked the story, and it was a ride down memory lane.
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