The Swiss Family Robinson

The Swiss Family Robinson was initially written in German by Swiss author Johann Wyss in 1812, and then soon after an accurate English translation was completed by William Godwin in 1816. The Godwin translation remained the standard in English for a generation or two, but by the mid-19th century the number and variety of English translations began to multiply - there were no enforceable copyright laws and translators freely added episodes, changed names (and even genders) of some of the characters and cut portions of the text to conform to changing views on education and aesthetic tastes. There are probably over a dozen such variations and most who read the novel today are not reading the original (the 2007 Penguin Classics edition, edited by John Seelye, is the 1816 Godwin translation, which is the closest to the original). I have now read two: William Kingston's 1879 adaptation (one of the more common adaptations) and Godwin, and I believe the original translation of Wyss by Godwin is better. It's not abridged like most later versions so certain scenes just make more sense - for example some of the characters are more dynamic, like Ernest shows himself to be a capable bloodthirsty killer like his brothers (a scene cut from later editions to maintain his "bookish" nature) - and the theories on education are classic Rousseauian (he is mentioned twice in the narrative).This isn't your childhood Swiss family. Godwin's 1816 translation has rarely been in print until recently - most versions floating around are some variation of Isabelle de Montolieu's 1824 French adaptation (William H. G. Kingston's 1879 English translation of Montolieu's French adaption is probably the most common). In Montolieu/Kingston's version, the original ~400 page that Wyss wrote has been abridged to about 150 pages, with an additional 150 pages or so of new material added to the end (with an entirely different ending, new characters, etc). So if you've read Swiss family as a child, and are looking for an "unabridged" version, you may find Godwin's 1816 translation missing a lot of material - simply because Wyss never wrote it in the first place.What version to read? I would say Montolieu/Kingston's version (and others) are more "kid friendly" mainly because the Godwin translation is from 1816 and as such uses some language that is dated and has passages that would probably be boring or not make sense without historical context. So in a way there is no "right" version since most readers for the past 150 years have not been reading the "original" anyway. I would probably recommend the Montolieu/Kingston version for juvenile readers and the Godwin version for adults - or even better, read all of Godwin plus the second half of Montolieu/Kingston which is all new material, the first half just being an abridged version of Godwin.In the end I enjoyed the novel for what it is - a great adventure and inspiring family story. Many classic stories are challenging and interesting but not always "fun" - this one is just a great story and fun to read. It's even more fun knowing there are is a whole world of alternative versions available, with more adventures and different endings, but I'm glad to have read the original as it was written by Wyss (and his sons).

Great audio book! The kids didn't want to get out of the car and until they heard the whole story! I thought my five year old was sleeping but he was actually listening. They all sat quietly listening intently. It was remarkable. I was able to get errands and long drive home done Peacefully! I'll be ordering more of these! Hahaha

My 11 year old son was required to read this book for school. Here's what he has to say: The book is very interesting though it is long. The chapters could go slowly sometimes but it's worth it. This book consists of a lot of old English so it's best if you use the dictionary and highlight words and phrases. The book has an intriguing plot to it. The story keeps you interested. You can't predict things very well in this book so it makes it a little suspenseful. The book is not based on a true story but is based on true personalities. Look in the note in the beginning by Edward Packard. I reccommend that this book is read with multiple people. It seems to be a book for that kind of purpose. First of all, it's more fun that way. Second of all, as said by Edward Packard, the writer made the book as a fun book to read to his sons. That's multiple people. I also like that it brings references of God and the Sabbath. They respect Him and these events. This book is great. It has very good morals for life.

The books was in perfect condition and my daughter loved it.

This has long been one of my favorite books, and now I'm sharing it with my two daughters. The Kindle formats aren't always my favorites but this is a good one in my opinion. Sometimes the illustrations look a little hinky, but overall it's nice to have some pictures to look at to complement this wonderful story. I have always loved their adventures but now as a parent, I find myself enjoying the family dynamics even more. It is very quaint, charming and I find particular inspiration in the way the father instructs, encourages and equips his sons, while also honoring his wife. I found myself learning from him as a parent - considering more when to pull back and let my kids make mistakes and learn from them, and when to offer guidance and instruction. I felt inspired to equip my kids much more in life skills and even some survival skills. The author created a wonderful picture of a close-knit family raising children to be kind, honest, respectful and very self-sufficient while still having great fun together. They definitely take what could be a challenging and scary situation and make more than the best of it. Imagine that! Enjoy!

Fine historical review of castaways accomplishments and trials. It even has a happy ending as additional family and friends arrive to lay the foundation for growth.

My 10 year old boy, an advanced reader, who enjoys adventure, said this was a fantastic book and one of the best he's ever read. The language is a bit old fashioned at times and more challenging than modern children's books, but that's not a bad thing.

Sebbene in passato godesse di buona fama, negli ultimi tempi questo romanzo non viene più tradotto, quelle poche traduzioni risultano estremamente ridotte, scorciate rispetto all'originale. Si tratta del romanzo da cui è stato tratto l'anime Flo, la piccola Robinson. Interessante.

Exactamente el libro que esperaba, perfecto para el nivel indicado que dicen, a mi hija le ha encantado, super chulo

Very good quality book