Kahlil Gibran His Life and World

by Kahlil Gibran, Jean Gibran

Traces the poet's life and career from his childhood in Lebanon to his ultimate success and last days, with particular focus on his most famous work, The Prophet

Genres: Biography, History

442 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1974

About the author

Kahlil Gibran (Arabic: جبران خليل جبران ) 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.

Reviews

[Debra Waites · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched with copious notes. A glimpse into the art world at the turn of the century in Boston and the influence of a few people who took an interest in a young, talented Lebanese youth living on the wrong side of the tracks.

[Frank Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surely you can find that copy of The Prophet, bound in black, somewhere in your stuff. The dust cover is probably long gone. I found a copy, but I didn't know much about Gibran himself until I read this book. Things I didn't know were that he he wrote in Arabic as well as English, and the English only late in his life, and that he painted for quite a while before writing much. He lived in Boston when William James was there, and there were some tie ins to people who studied Jung extensively. He died before turning 50. Here's an interesting article. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17...

[Ian Muttoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful.

[Janelle Trees · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author's nephew and his wife inherited memories and memorabilia, which inspired them to want to write about the man behind the wisdom.
The artistic and literary scene of late nineteenth century Boston was unknown to me. I didn't ever suspect that it would interest me, but it did. Through their nurturing of a talented and charismatic immigrant boy, influential (and interesting) women helped create an artist from a child who was destined to be a peddler.
Years of work have been distilled into a book which paints Kahlil Gibran's life and times in vivid scenes. Generously illustrated with photographs placed just when you want to know more, the book is respectful without being a panegyric. It is well written, with shining intelligence and love, leavened with humour, realism and wit.
Kahlil did not always tell the truth about his life. Rather than fill the gaps with conjecture or worse, the authors have used primary sources. I highly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Lebanese culture, 'Orientalism' in the US intelligentsia, Boston social history or the man himself.