Swiss family robinson story...
The Swiss Family Robinson, Crusoe's Swiss cousins
An international hit
The story was first adapted in French in 1814 by the Lausanne novelist and translator Isabelle de Montolieu.
Swiss family robinson controversy
"At that time, it was rather rare in our country for German books to be translated into French," says Professor Daniel Maggetti, director of the Centre des littératures en Suisse romande at the University of Lausanne.
"The fact that it was translated so quickly was proof of its potential in Switzerland. The French version, 'Le Robinson suisse', rapidly acquired a devoted following, which allowed it to become a core classic of Swiss literature." The story was a best-seller at home and abroad, attracting an English-speaking readership in particular.
The book has inspired films, series and even theme parks. "This success is due to the fact that American culture recognised in the text an element of the beloved boy-scout. It is no accident that TheSwiss Family Robinson was made into a