Spyri, << SHPEE ree, >> Johanna (1827-1901), was a Swiss author of books for children. Her best-known book is Heidi (1880-1881), the tale of an orphaned Swiss girl who brings joy to her grouchy grandfather and to others in her life. The book was originally published in two volumes.
Spyri was born Johanna Heusser in Hirzel, Switzerland, near Zurich. She spent her whole life in or near Zurich. In 1852, she married Bernhard Spyri. Spyri wrote poetry as a child but did not write professionally until the age of 43. She then wrote several well-received short stories in order to raise money for refugees wounded in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). Spyri died on July 7, 1901.
