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The Prophet (book)

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The Prophet is a famous collection of 26 prose poetry fables.

These stories were written in English by Kahlil Gibran. He was a talented poet and writer from Lebanon. This book is his most well-known work of all. People all over the world find great meaning in its words. It is considered one of the best-selling books ever written. It has stayed in print since it first appeared.

The story follows a man named Almustafa. He has lived in the city of Orphalese for 12 years. Finally, a ship arrives in the harbor to take him home. The people of the city are sad to see him go. They gather in the great square before the temple. A woman named Almitra asks him to speak to the crowd. Almustafa gives many speeches to the people before he departs.

Almustafa speaks about many parts of being human. He shares thoughts on love and marriage. He talks about children and the act of giving. The people ask him about work, joy, and sorrow. He even discusses eating, drinking, and buying or selling. Other topics include friendship, time, and even death. Each speech helps the people understand their own lives better.

Gibran began working on this book in 1912. He published it in 1923 through Alfred A. Knopf. The first printing was small, with only 2,000 copies. Knopf sold 1,159 of those initial books. The demand grew very quickly after that. Sales doubled the next year and doubled again the year after. By 1957, the book reached one million copies sold.

Many different things have been inspired by this book. It has been translated into more than 100 languages. There is even an animated film from 2014. Musicians have also made albums inspired by his poetry. Gibran was influenced by many different faiths and art styles. He was a Maronite Christian, but he also studied Islam and the Bahá’í Faith. He loved Arabic art and European styles like Romanticism.

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