Gibran, Kahlil << jih BRAHN, kah LEEL >> (1883-1931), was a Lebanese writer. His first name is sometimes spelled Khalil. Gibran’s writings teach a philosophy of universal peace and religious tolerance based on a spirit of love that transcends cultural differences. He wrote in Arabic until 1918, when he began writing in English. The publication of The Prophet (1923) established his fame in English-speaking countries. It is a mystical poem that explores the importance of love. In addition to poetry, Gibran wrote fiction and nonfiction. His major works are featured in The Collected Works (2007).
Gibran was born on Jan. 6, 1883, in the village of Bsharri in Maronite Christian Lebanon. His given and family name was Gibran Khalil Gibran. In 1895, he and his mother immigrated to Boston, where Gibran studied English. In 1898, he returned to Lebanon and, at 15 years of age, entered the Maronite school in Beirut. Later, he studied painting in Paris. In 1912, Gibran moved to New York, where he lived until his death. Gibran’s multicultural upbringing greatly influenced his writing. He died on April 10, 1931.
