Johanna Spyri turns 181

The NPR feature The Writer's Almanac informs me that today is Heidi author Johanna Spyri's birthday.

I haven't read Heidi in 15 years, but it's been lurking around in the background of my mind lately. My Austrian film student cousin mentioned that she's working on a show about the Austrian mountains, which--in a roundabout way--reminded me of Spyri's book. (I realize Heidi is set in Switzerland, but mountains are mountains, right?) I have vague memories of being irritated by the movie versions, but thinking the book was actually pretty good. I'll have to pick up a copy and see how the story has aged...