Johann David Wyss

• Born 1743-05-28 · Died 1818-01-11

Johann David Wyss was a Swiss author. He is best known for his novel "The Swiss Family Robinson". The story was written 1794-98 for his children and not intended for publication. His son Johann Rudolf Wyss edited and published the book in 1812. It immediately became a bestseller and is as of today the Swiss book that's been translated into the greatest number of languages. The book inspired Frederick Marryat's "Masterman Ready, or the Wreck of the Pacific" (1841) that became (in it's german translation) the most popular adventure story of the time. Allegedly Jules Verne was inspired by the story to write "Godfrey Morgan: A Californian Mystery" (1882) and later wrote the serial "The Castaways of the Flag" (1900).