Today In History; Johanna Spyri, Author

1827: Author Johanna Spyri was born in Hirzel, Switzerland. Her most famous book, Heidi (1880), was not only famous for its vivid portrayal of the landscape but also for its understanding of how children see life and their feelings. Spyri wrote more than 50 stories and devoted herself to charitable causes. In 1937 the popular novel was made into a film starring Shirley Temple. The film, like the book, is considered a classic. So much so that Disney updated the story and released a new film version of it in 1993.