Johanna Spyri's Life and Works

1827
Johanna Louise Heusser is born on 12 June at Hirzel in the Canton of Zürich, the fourth of six children born to Joh. Jak. Heusser (1783-1859; doctor, surgeon, and care-giver for the mentally ill) and Meta Schweizer (1797-1876; daughter of Diethelm Schweizer, a pastor of Hirzel; writer of religious songs and author of a home chronicle). Their home, medical practice, and small clinic was in the "Doktorhaus" (Doctor's house) over the church, now known as the "Meta-Heusser-Heim" (Meta Heusser Home)

1833-1841
Attends primary school in Hirzel and receives additional private instruction from Pastor Salomon Tobler in the pastor's house

1841-1843
Continues education in Zürich, learning modern languages and piano; begins friendship with Anna Fries, Betsy and Conrad Ferdinand Meyer

1844-1845
Resides at Yverdon in French-speaking Switzerland

1845-1852
Helps raise both her younger sisters in Hirzel; becomes avid reader, especially of Droste-Hülshoff and Goethe. Attempts to separate herself from the pietistic worldview of her mother. Becomes acquainted with the young but overly revolutionary-minded writer Heinrich Leuthold. Spends several summers in the area around Chur (especially Jenins and Maienfeld), which was later to provide the geographic setting for "Heidi".