The Swiss Family Robinson

WYSS, Jean Rudolph

Published by Saalfield, U.S., 1940

About this Item

Adapted for young readers, by an unknown hand, this is a handsome, large format edition of the famous castaway story. Leaving aside the question of whether the book should be assigned to Johann David Wyss or to his son, Johann Rudolf Wyss (and why the publishers of this book changed Johann into Jean), or to the many writers who have edited or adapted the novel, let's look at the title. As a kid I always wondered why a Swiss family should have the name Robinson, which didn't sound Swiss or foreign in any way. But, of course, it's not the name of the family. A careless translation from the original German title has led to the confusion. The story is "Robinsonade" or, if you prefer, "Robinsonesque" as in "like Robinson" or inspired by Robinson Crusoe, as many castaway novels have been. So the title really means "The Adventures of a Swiss Family who, like Robinson Crusoe, got Themselves Shipwrecked on a Desert Island". Anyway, enough! Back to this book. There's a color frontispiece, and black & white drawings on every spread. It is a very good copy indeed, just slightly browned on edges and with a short split in the cloth at the top of the spine. The dust jacket is very good, a little worn and nicked along edges with a couple of closed tears.

Seller Inventory # 002204

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Swiss Family Robinson
• Publisher: Saalfield, U.S.
• Publication Date: 1940
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Henry Muheim
• Edition: First edition thus
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good