Johanna Spyri wrote especially for young people, her writings dealing mostly with Swiss mountain life and portraying the thrifty, industrious nature of the people. The stories are sometimes sad, -for the peasant's life is full of hardships, -but through them all a fresh mountain breeze is blowing and a play of sunlight illumines the high Alps.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.