Kahlil Gibran (Arabic: 噩亘乇丕賳 禺賱賷賱 噩亘乇丕賳) was a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer. Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero. He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture. Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
This is a great collection. Inspiring, enlightening, engrossing, touching,... the best of Khalil. It's a collection of his english works. Most of his other works are collected in the Treasury of Khalil Gibran series, which I'd recommend, as well. I bought this book at special price from here:
In my humble opinion this is one of the greatest prophets and writers of all time. He immigrated to the United States as an adolescent, and was part of our culture unlike so many that were years ago.
His superb title THE PROPHET is poetry and philosophy for almost any time or place.
As is obvious I am in total awe and dependence on his brilliance and immense humanity and understanding of the human condition in a very spiritual, enlightened and passionate man.
Like me you probably purchased this after reading The Prophet. This complete volume is a welcome addition as a keeper on your bookshelf as its understanding matures with the reader. I've lost count of the amount of times that I've fished it off the bookshelf to return to a previously read page only to get a deeper understanding.
Some books are magical. They have the potential to transform your life. I had the most fulfilling experience reading this epic. Every word a jewel, every thought a wisdom, every prose revolutionary.
In the current world of memes and lowering attention span, we do often come across few gems left by the great Khalil Gibran. But reading his complete work was like finding a treasure trove. Gibran came from a lost world of Lebanon. A land with ancient wisdom and other world charm. The reader is taken to his world where innocence still exists and the characters speak a language of the soul. A soulful work by an enlightened author which deserves multiple reading.
Mystical, religious, perhaps esoteric, but still an amazing read. Khalil Gibran had a real talent for prose, and even more so for poetry, and this is coming from somebody not poetically inclined. Also contains his art. Worth getting just for the harmony of the words as they bounce around in your head.