Bindschedler was born in Zürich, Switzerland to cotton merchant Friedrich Rudolf and mother Anna Tauber.[1] Her family spent their summers in Villa Bellerive, which she later used as inspiration for her books.[2][3]
Bindschedler was trained as a teacher under the guidance of Joseph Viktor Widmann, who would later recommend her to teach at a private school in Zurich.[4] She taught at that school for 24 years before leaving due to a heart condition. While at the school, she advanced from primary school teacher to secondary school teacher and also taught in Paris. She worked approximately 40 hours a week both in school and in additional lessons.[5]
After retiring, she moved to Augsburg, Germany, where she wrote her first book, "The Turnach children in summer."[6]
Bindschedler's books were very successful in Switzerland, tying Johanna Spyri's book Heidi in popularity there.[7]
Bindschedler died on 28 June 1919.[8] Many of her books took place in Seeweid in the Riesbach district of Zurich. The district named a street in her honour.[1]
Selected publications
The following is a list of selected publications:[9]
Turnachkinder
Die Turnachkinder im Sommer (1906)
Die Turnachkinder im Winter (1909)
Bibliography
Judith Burgdorfer: Ida Bindschedler: Leben, Wirken und Werk der 'Turnachkinder'-Autorin, NZZ, Libro, 2024.
