# Johann Wyss

## Biography

Johann David Wyss was a Swiss author, clergyman, and former military chaplain, born on May 28, 1743, in Bern, Switzerland. He later served as the rector of the Reformed Protestant Cathedral in Bern. Wyss is primarily remembered for his classic adventure novel, The Swiss Family Robinson, first published in 1812. Inspired by Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, Wyss wrote the story to entertain and educate his four sons, imparting moral lessons and a love for nature. He was known as an accomplished linguist with an affinity for the outdoors. The creation of The Swiss Family Robinson was a family endeavor; his son, Johann Rudolf Wyss, edited and eventually published the manuscript, with another son, Johann Emmanuel, providing illustrations. Wyss’s work, firmly Christian and moral in tone, became a beloved piece of children’s literature, showcasing themes of ingenuity and resilience. He passed away on January 11, 1818, in his hometown of Bern.

## Books

- [The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island](https://samolit.com/books/96652)