The Prophet

Eleven Years In The Making: Gibran worked on The Prophet for over eleven years. He rewrote the manuscript multiple times, obsessing over every phrase and rhythm.

Twenty Six Prose Poems: The book contains 26 poetic essays, though some sources list 28 chapters. These cover sprawling topics from love and marriage to death and religion, each standing as its own meditation.

Written In English, Not Arabic: Gibran composed The Prophet entirely in English, his second language. He wanted to reach Western audiences directly rather than through translation.

Gibran Drew The Illustrations: The author created all the artwork himself. His dreamy, ethereal drawings appear throughout the original edition.

Never Out Of Print: Since its 1923 publication, The Prophet has never gone out of print. It has remained continuously available for over a century, a rare achievement in publishing.

Over 100 Languages Strong: The book has been translated into more than 100 languages, making it one of the most translated books in history. A 2017 study found translations in as many as 115 languages.

Third Best Selling Poet Ever: Gibran ranks as the third best selling poet of all time, behind only William Shakespeare and Lao Tzu. His success came despite cool critical reception from literary establishment.

Advertised Only Once: Publisher Alfred A. Knopf advertised the book only once. Knopf later said of the readership, "It must be a cult. But I have never met any of its members."

Embraced by 1960's Counterculture: Sales exploded during the 1960s when young Americans discovered the book. It became a staple at weddings, funerals, and college dorms across the country.

An Animated Film In 2014: The book was adapted into an animated feature film in 2014, with Salma Hayek as producer and voice actor. The film brought Gibran's vision to a new generation.

Elvis Presley Loved It: The King gave copies of The Prophet to friends and quoted from it often. He found deep personal meaning in its spiritual teachings.