Mary Mapes Dodge

"Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates" is a novel by the American author Mary Mapes Dodge, first published in 1865. The novel takes place in the Netherlands, and is a colourful fictional portrait of early nineteenth-century Dutch life, as well as a tale of youthful honor. The title of the book refers to the beautiful silver skates to be awarded to the winner of the ice-skating race Hans Brinker hopes to enter. The novel introduced the sport of speed...

When a new friend gives Hans and his sister Gretel enough money for one pair of ice skates, Hans insists that Gretel enter the grand skating competition, while he approaches the great Doctor who consents to try to restore their father's memory.

At the age of five, little orphan Heidi is sent to live with her grandfather in the Alps. Everyone in the village is afraid of him, but Heidi is fascinated by his long beard and bushy gray eyebrows. She loves her life in the mountains, playing in the sunshine and growing up among the goats and birds. But one terrible day, Heidi is collected by her aunt and is made to live with a new family in town. Heidi can't bear to be away from her grandfather;...