Rico and Wiseli

by Johanna Spyri

Rico was almost nine years old, and had been to school for two winters. Up there in the mountains there was no school in the summer-time; for then the teacher had his field to cultivate, and his hay and wood to cut, like everybody else, and nobody had time to think of going to school. This was not a great sorrow for Rico - he knew how to amuse himself. When he had once taken his place in the morning on the threshold, he would stand there for hours without moving, gazing into the far distance with dreamy eyes, until the door of the house over the way openen, and a little girl make her appearance looked over at him laughingly... In the Upper Engadine Valley, on the road leading up to the Maloja Pass, lies a lonely town called Sils. Taking a diagonal path from the street back to the mountains, one comes to a smaller village known as Sils-Maria. Here, a little aside from the highway, in a field, two dwellings stood opposite each other. Both had old-fashioned doors and tiny windows set deep in the wall. One house had a garden, where herbs and vegetables and a few straggling flowers were growing. The other, which was much smaller, had only an old stable with a couple of chickens wandering in and out of it.At the same hour every morning there came out of this forlorn little house a man who was so tall that he had to stoop in order to pass through the doorway. His hair and eyes were very dark, and the lower part of his face was hidden by a heavy black beard. Familiar as this man's figure was to the people of Sils, they always spoke of him as "the Italian." His work took him regularly up the Maloja, where the roads were being improved, or down the Pass to St. Moritz Bath, where some new houses were going up.

Genres: Middle Grade, Classics

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1878

About the author

Johanna Spyri was a Swiss author of children's stories, best known for Heidi. Born Johanna Louise Heusser in the rural area of Hirzel, Switzerland, as a child she spent several summers in the area around Chur in Graubünden, the setting she later would use in her novels.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many motifs here which can be found in Spyri's more famous novel, Heidi. In both stories, s non-traditional marriage produces a child who undergoes many trials before finding a home. A grandmother or other relative imparts wise advice: specifically, the main character is urged to trust in God and be constant in prayer. There is an aunt who scolds and makes life difficult. And the life of an invalid or unwell person is brightened by the presence of a sweet-natured girl.

These stories don't have quite the same quality as Heidi. The plots seem a little strained and the moralizing is done with a fairly heavy hand. But they are interesting nonetheless.

[Cheryl]

with Wiseli Finds Her Place, according to David... note, too, the disparate titles of other editions... definitely needs a proper blurb...

[itchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spyri's children really get to tug at one's heartstrings.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Rico"! It is unique among the Johanna Spyri books I have read, in that much of the time you are not in Switzerland. I was definitely drawn in by his love of music, and was able to identify with his affinity for the violin. The ending seems to be pulled a bit beyond logic (It reminded me of A Little Princess), but I really enjoyed it. Wiseli was not my favorite of her stories, as it had a bit more of a melancholy feel; however, it was very well written. I was especially impressed with a piece of foreshadowing that seemed off topic and trivial, but became very important.