Other editions of book Children Classics: Swiss Family Robinson

THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is a story of family cooperation and mutual support set on an exotic distant island. The tale, the most famous imitation of Defoe's ROBINSON CRUSOE, was concocted by Johann Wyss's father for the enjoyment of his sons. The sons pooled their talents in writing, illustrating and editing to produce this popular classic. THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON is an ideal selection to share with children, at home, on vacation, or on a long weekend.

"For many days we had been tempest-tossed the raging storm increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost." So begins this uplifting tale and delightful adventure story that relates a family’s ingenuity and courage as they struggle to survive on an exotic tropical island. The Robinson family—a minister, his wife, and their four sons—are shipwrecked and become castaways on an island in the East Indies. Although they have lost almost everything in the shipwreck, they are so resourceful at constructing a life for themselves on the island that, when rescue comes, they decline to leave their refuge and their happy life.

"Swiss Family Robinson" is the classic tale of a Swiss pastor, his wife and their four sons who find themselves shipwrecked on an isolated tropical island. Along with a couple of dogs, some livestock, pigeons and geese, "Swiss Family Robinson," is the story of a family's struggle to survive in a foreign land isolated from society. Everyday brings a new adventure and a new obstacle to overcome. Above all, "Swiss Family Robinson" is a classic tale of adventure that can be enjoyed by readers both young and old.

This story, long considered a young adult classic, holds a rich fascination for mature readers as well. Share with the Robinsons—a minister, his wife, and four sons—as they survive a shipwreck and then adapt to life on an island populated by exotic birds and animals. Through small successes and disappointments, not only does this courageous family survive, but comes to find a happiness that eluded them in their civilized homeland.

"Swiss Family Robinson" is the classic tale of a Swiss pastor, his wife and their four sons who find themselves shipwrecked on an isolated tropical island. Along with a couple of dogs, some livestock, pigeons and geese, "Swiss Family Robinson," is the story of a family's struggle to survive in a foreign land isolated from society. Everyday brings a new adventure and a new obstacle to overcome. Above all, "Swiss Family Robinson" is a classic tale of adventure that can be enjoyed by readers both young and old.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

The Swiss Family Robinson by Swiss pastor Johann David Wyss is a story about a Swiss family en route to Australia that is shipwrecked in a storm in the East Indies. Modeled on Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, the name Robinson in the title refers not to the family’s surname but rather identifies the book as part of the adventure genre spawned by Defoe’s classic. The adventures proceed as a series of incidents that teach Christian–oriented moral lessons in self-reliance, the natural world and the values of frugality, cooperation, husbandry and civilization. The book is shaped in roughly three parts. The first tells of the ship running aground, the crew abandoning the family, and their actions to rescue provisions, tools, books, livestock, weapons and dogs from the ship and establish a homestead on the island. The second section is a series of vignettes in which they build a tree house, discover unusual and improbable plants and animals, and build mechanical devices. In the third section they sail around the island, discover another European family hiding from pirates (with a female love interest for the boys), and set the stage for their re-entry onto the outside world. Wyss’ son Johann Rudolf Wyss played a large role in editing the book, which was first published in 1812. An early French adaptation by Isabelle du Montlieu in 1813, which was followed by a “continuation" in 1824 that grew the total to five volumes, led the way for the emergence of many versions of the original story, with episodes added, changed and deleted. The best-known English version was based on the French and published in 1849, abridged and edited by William H.G. Kingston. This reading is based on that version.