The Swiss Family Robinson
By Johann David Wyss (1812)
The classic saga of a Swiss pastor, his wife, and four sons shipwrecked on a bountiful tropical island, creating the treehouse of Falconhurst and learning natural history together.
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Chapter 1: Storm-tossed--Wrecked--Deserted--Supper--We make swimming-belts for
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 1
Storm-tossed--Wrecked--Deserted--Supper--We make swimming-belts for the children--An anxious night--The gale moderates--We examine our cargo--Jack introduces two new acquaintances--How shall we get on shore?--Jack's plan--We adopt it--The use of a lever--Our tug-boat completed--Another night on the wreck--We collect the cargo--And embark--Jack's friends will not be left behind--Steer for the shore--Once more on land--We erect a tent--Glue soup--Jack makes the acquaintance of a lobster--Ernest shirks the water--Oysters and salt--How shall we eat our soup?--Ernest solves the difficulty--Fritz returns--The sucking pig--How to open an oyster and how to eat it--The dogs devour the agouti--Fritz's anger--Our first night in the new country.
For many days we had been tempest-tossed. Six times had the darkness closed over a wild and terrific scene, and returning light as often brought but renewed distress, for the raging storm increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost.
We were driven completely out of our course; no conjecture could be formed as to our whereabouts. The crew had lost heart, and were utterly exhausted by incessant labor.
The riven masts had gone by the board, leaks had been sprung in every direction, and the water, which rushed in, gained upon us rapidly.
Instead of reckless oaths, the seamen now uttered frantic cries to God for mercy, mingled with strange and often ludicrous vows, to be performed should deliverance be granted.
Every man on board alternately commended his soul to his Creator, and strove to bethink himself of some means of saving his life.
My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these horrors. Our four young sons were overpowered by terror. "Dear children," said I, "if the Lord will, he can save us even from this fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into his hand, and think of the joy and blessedness of finding ourselves forever and ever united in that happy home above."
At these words my weeping wife looked bravely up, and, as the boys clustered round her, she began to cheer and encourage them with calm and loving words. I rejoiced to see her fortitude, though my heart was ready to break as I gazed on my dear ones.
We knelt down together, one after another praying with deep earnestness and emotion. Fritz, in particular, besought help and deliverance for his dear parents and brothers, as though quite forgetting himself.
Our hearts were soothed by the never-failing comfort of child-like, confiding prayer, and the horror of our situation seemed less overwhelming. "Ah," thought I, "the Lord will hear our prayer! He will help us."
Amid the roar of the thundering waves I suddenly heard the cry of "Land, land!" while at the same instant the ship struck with a frightful shock, which threw every one to the deck, and seemed to threaten her immediate destruction.
Dreadful sounds betokened the breaking up of the ship, and the roaring waters poured in on all sides:
Then the voice of the captain was heard above the tumult shouting, "Lower away the boats! We are lost!"
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Table of Contents
29 ChaptersEvery chapter below is pre-indexed for oral narration and easy 1-click scheduling into your weekly Charlotte Mason lesson plan.
Chapter 1: Storm-tossed--Wrecked--Deserted--Supper--We make swimming-belts for
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Shipwreck and the Swimming Tubs
Building a float of eight water tubs to transport the four boys, mother, and farm animals ashore.
Chapter 2: First Night on the Island of Tentholm
Pitching a tent of sailcloth; roasted oysters on the beach and the loyal watchdogs Turk and Juno.
Chapter 2: A morning consultation--Breakfast--Away on an expedition--Over the
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 2
Chapter 3: The mother relates her adventures--Proposes that we should build a
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Discovering Falconhurst: The Treehouse Palace
Constructing a wooden platform thirty feet in the air among the branches of a giant mangrove fig tree.
Chapter 4: The Rope Ladder and the Bow and Arrow
Shooting an arrow with twine over the high limb to pull up the rope ladder; pulling it up at night.
Chapter 4: A day of rest--A parable for the young people--Quiet
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 4
Chapter 5: Jack and Ernest disappear--Fritz and I start for the wreck--The boys
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Sowing the Garden and Taming the Wild Animals
Planting potatoes, sugarcane, and flax; catching an onager, monkeys, and wild peccaries.
Chapter 6: Now for the pinnace--Repeated visits to the wreck--The pinnace
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 6
Chapter 6: The Salt Grotto: The Winter Palace
Chipping away at a cliff to store provisions; discovering a dry cavern lined with gleaming rock salt.
Chapter 7: Fritz and I return to the Calabash Wood--Fritz shoots a ruffed
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 7
Chapter 7: The Boa Constrictor & The Brave Donkey Grizzle
The terror of the great serpent in the swamp; the faithful donkey sacrificing himself to draw it out.
Chapter 8: The Great Whale Stranded on the Reef
Salving whale oil for the lamps and whalebones for roof arches and fence palisades.
Chapter 8: Prop our young trees--A lecture on grafting--A new idea broached--Why
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 8
Chapter 9: The Pinnace from the English Vessel
Assembling a small sailboat from the wreckage; discovering the smoking beacon on the far cliff.
Chapter 9: Spring again--We begin to hew a cave--Jack makes a discovery--We drive
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 9
Chapter 10: Birdlime--A midnight raid--The massacre at Woodlands--Capture of
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 10
Chapter 10: The Rescue of Jenny Montrose
Finding the English officer's daughter who survived three years alone as a castaway on the rock.
Chapter 11: The Arrival of the British Frigate
Signals exchanged; the family deciding whether to return to Europe or remain in their island paradise.
Chapter 11: The blubber of the whale boiled and stored--A unique
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 11
Chapter 12: We examine the marsh--A cave discovered--We find the floor covered
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 12
Chapter 13: The boys return and give an account of their adventures--How they
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 13
Chapter 14: The rainy season again--The building of the cajack--The mother invents
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 14
Chapter 15: Trial of the cajack--Fritz kills a walrus--We carry home its head--The
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 15
Chapter 16: Ten years afterward--Our farms and farmyards--Fritz makes a voyage of
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 16
Chapter 17: Juno's epitaph--Fritz does not appear--We start in search of him--A
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 17
Chapter 18: Spring and its accompanying work--The mysterious guns--Who fired
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss — Chapter 18
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