The Prophet.

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1964. A handsomely bound copy of the magnum opus of "the William Blake of the 20th century". This collection of prose-poetry inspirational essays, first published by Knopf in 1923, brought Gibran enduring fame outside the Arab world. The "On Love" and "On Marriage" sections are still a favoured source for readings at weddings. Gibran (1883-1931) is one of a select group of literary geniuses whose greatest works were written in a language other than that of their birth. Born in the Lebanon, Gibran emigrated to the US in 1895 with his parents and siblings. The Boston publisher and photographer F. Holland Day funded his education, encouraging him to read Walt Whitman and study the drawings of William Blake. As early as 1898 some of Gibran's drawings were published as binding designs and his first art exhibition was held in 1904 in Day's studio. Gibran was broadly influenced by the writing of the Syrian writer Francis Marrash, whose works dealt with many of the themes of love, freedom, and spirituality that were to become Gibran's hallmarks. Most of his earliest writings were in Arabic; he was an influential member of the Arab-American League of the Pen (al-Rabita al-Qalamiyya), a group of expatriate writers then active in New York, often referred to as "al-Mahjar", issuing numerous newspaper articles, poems, and several books. In 1918, Gilbran published his first book in English, The Madman, a collection of seven parables, and this was followed by several English-language works, some with his illustrations. When The Prophet was published, it sold out its first printing in a month. It has since been translated into at least 50 languages. Octavo (197 x 132 mm). Contemporary blue half morocco gift binding for Lauriat's of Boston, spine with two gilt-ruled raised bands, lettered and decorated with central floral device in gilt to head and foot, blue cloth sides ruled in gilt, front cover initialled "R.H." and dated "6-11-66" in gilt, cloudy marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Halftone frontispiece portrait and 11 similar plates, all by Gibran. Publisher's device to title page. Gift inscription card to one Rosalie loosely inserted, once affixed to front free endpaper, attendant glue residue. Corners lightly worn and bumped. A very good copy.