Kahlil Gibran (1183 – 1931), poet, philosopher and artist, was born in Mount Lebanon, a land that has produced many prophets and philosophers. His fame and influence have spread far beyond the Near East, where millions of Arabic-speaking people consider him the genius of his age.

Kahlil Gibran (1183 – 1931), poet, philosopher and artist, was born in Mount Lebanon, a land that has produced many prophets and philosophers. His fame and influence have spread far beyond the Near East, where millions of Arabic-speaking people consider him the genius of his age. In America, where he lived for the last twenty years of his life, he began to write in English, and his books of poetry, illustrated with mystical drawings, are now known all over the world. The Prophet is Gibran's masterpiece. First published sixty years ago, it has been translated into many languages and has sold millions of copies, becoming one of the most beloved classics of our time. Gibran's drawings have been compared to those of William Blake, and his poetry echoes the majestic rhythms of Ecclesiastes. The Prophet is timeless in its insight into the human condition; and in its calm philosophy and spontaneous joy can be found the expression of the deepest impulses of man’s heart and mind.