Kahlil Gibran was a writer and poet most noted for his famous work of inspirational fiction, “The Prophet.” “The Prophet” became very popular in the 60s and 70s, especially among the counterculture movement.
Gibran also considered himself to be a philosopher, sculptor, painter, theologian, and visual artist.
His written works were mostly poetry, parables, and short stories. He did not write self improvement books in the traditional sense but he did inspire people to look deep within their hearts for love and serenity.
The Life of Kahlil Gibran
Kahlil Gibran was born on January 6, 1883 in a mountainous region of modern day Lebanon. He was surrounded by lush natural beauty that later exerted influence on his painting and writing.His mother was strong-willed and deeply religious. She had a strong influence on Gibran, especially since she raised him as a single parent when his father was sent to prison for tax evasion.
Kahlil Gibran grew up in poverty and had no formal education other than what he received periodically from a village priest. In hopes of providing a better life for her children, Gibran’s mother moved her family to the US in 1895.
In the new country, Kahlil Gibran’s love of the arts and culture flourished as he spent his spare time in theaters and art galleries.
In 1904 Kahlil Gibran held his first art exhibition in Boston, then went on to study art in Paris under August Rodin. By 1912, he had moved back to New York, and settled into life as a writer and artist.
More and more books are also becoming available as ebooks and audibles.
Kahlil Gibran and “The Prophet”
“The Prophet” was published in 1923 and is Gibran’s most well known work. The book has sold over 100 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages. The book has never been out of print and is in its 163rd printing, being still popular today.
Sources report that Kahlil Gibran is the third most popular poet in history only behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu. The book became a counterculture classic and was embraced by the New Age movement as well.
“The Prophet” is a collection of stories as told by the prophet Almustafa as he journeyed back home from a foreign land. Each chapter is devoted to a life topic concerning the human condition such as love, work, sorrow, joy, crime, freedom, pain, friendship, self-knowledge, beauty, evil, prayer, and death. There are 26 essays in all and they subtly offer self improvement advice in the form of deep wisdom and lyric beauty.
The writings of Kahlil Gibran were heavily influenced by spirituality and mysticism. He borrowed from Christianity, Sufism, Hinduism, Islam, and Theosophy.
He is remembered for his writings on spiritual love and many of the passages in “The Prophet” make for thought-provoking spiritual quotes to remember.
Other Works by Kahlil Gibran
• “The Treasured Writings of Kahlil Gibran” is a collection of many of the poems and short stories that were written by Gibran during his lifetime. This collection is available as a Kindle ebook or hardback bound for collecting or gift giving.
• “The Broken Wings” is another collection of the simple yet profound writings of Kahlil Gibran. It is also available as a Kindle download and like other writings by this great author, it inspires peace, love, and serenity in its readers.
• “Jesus The Son Of Man” is a
story by Kahlil Gibran that portrays the life of Jesus through
the eyes of the people who knew him such as Simon Peter, Mary
Magdalene, and Pontius Pilate.
• “Love Letters in the Sand: The Love Poems of Kahlil Gibran” is a collection of thoughts about love and the search for a soulmate. These inspirational and moving poems are simple yet beautiful, and manage to capture the many paths love leads us through during our lives.
• Poems and stories by Kahlil Gibran that were published in English individually in his lifetime and are now included in various compilations include “The Madman,” “Twenty Drawings,” “The Forerunner,” “Sand and Foam,” “Kingdom of the Imagination,” “The Earth Gods,” “The Wanderer,” “The Garden of the Prophet,” and “Lazarus and his Beloved.”
The Death of Kahlil Gibran
Kahlil Gibran died at the age of 46 on April 10. 1931. He passed away in New York City from tuberculosis and cirrhosis of the liver.
A year later his final wishes were carried out and he was buried in the beloved land of his birth, Lebanon. The location is now home to the Gibran Museum which houses many of his paintings, private manuscripts and belongings from his studio in New York. The museum is in Gibran’s hometown of Bsharri and all royalties from the works of Kahlil Gibran were willed to the town to be “used for good causes.”
While Kahlil Gibran didn’t write traditional self improvement books like many of today’s personal development authors, he certainly had a gift for touching the hearts of readers and inspiring them to grow towards love.
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