Born in Bern, Switzerland, on May 28, 1743, Johann David Wyss was a Swiss pastor. Little is known about the early years of his life. It is believed that Wyss was inspired by Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. He authored The Swiss Family Robinson for which he is best remembered. A tale of a family shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island, it follows their exploration and survival in the face of adversities. Edited by his son Johann Rudolf Wyss, The Swiss Family Robinson was first published in German in 1812. It was translated into English in 1814. Ever since, this children’s classic has remained one of the best-loved adventure stories of all time.