The Prophet

Gibran, Kahlil, 1883-1931Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.8

Word count: 68K words
Chapters: 7

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Prophet by Kahlil GibranAuthor: Gibran, Kahlil, 1883-1931,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 2019

Editor's review

The Prophet is a prose-poetry collection written by Gibran in English, in which the sage Almustafa answers questions before his departure, addressing life's themes such as love, marriage, children, work, freedom, and death. Its strength lies not in systematic argument but in concise, rhythmic, aphoristic expression, with short sentences and clear images; it is suited to repeated recitation rather than a single reading. As a public-domain e-book, it is convenient to consult and excerpt on the go, and is often used as an introduction to English prose poetry or for bilingual reading. Read it in short sessions in the morning or before bed, one or two pieces at a time, letting the words settle; or revisit relevant chapters at life's turning points, such as love and marriage or career choices. Note that the language carries religious and philosophical coloring; treat it as a text that prompts reflection, not a guide that provides specific answers.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy prose poetry and aphoristic writing for daily recitation
Learners who want to practice reading and excerpting with short English texts
Readers seeking calm reflection and verbal solace on life's questions

Not a good fit for

Practical readers expecting systematic argument or actionable methods
Readers who prefer strong plotting and fast-moving stories
Those sensitive to religious and philosophical language who wish to avoid such expression entirely

Reading tips

Read only one or two pieces at a time; after closing the book, reflect, then copy out the line that moves you most.
Read by theme, starting with chapters on love, work, or freedom that concern you now.
If reading in English, compare with a Chinese translation to see how sentence patterns and images are transformed.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is The Prophet suitable for reading in one sitting?

Not really. It consists of several short question-and-answer pieces with concise, dense language; reading it all at once may leave only an impression without digestion. It is better to read one or two pieces at a time, allow time to reflect and excerpt, and reread after a while.

Does reading this book require religious background knowledge?

No special background is needed. The book does contain religious and philosophical expression, but its themes center on universal life experiences such as love, marriage, work, and death, so general readers can enter directly; if you are interested in the relevant cultural background, you can explore it further.

Should I choose the English edition or a Chinese translation?

Choose the English edition to feel the rhythm and word choice of the original; choose a reliable Chinese translation for smooth comprehension. Reading them side by side is also rewarding, as it shows the trade-offs in translating aphoristic sentences, but there is no need to match every line.

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About the author

Gibran, Kahlil, 1883-1931 Author

Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was a writer who worked in both Arabic and English and is known for his prose poetry and parable-like sketches. The library holds three of his works, including The Prophet, The Madman: His Parables and Poems, and The Forerunner, His Parables and Poems. In short pieces, allegorical figures, and poetic language, his writing often explores such themes as love, freedom, solitude, faith, and life and death. His texts are concise, rhythmic, and philosophical, combining lyricism with a teaching tone. The Prophet, his most widely circulated representative work, is structured as a sage's farewell answers to questions. Public information is limited, so his detailed biography should not be speculated upon here, yet these works already show his distinctive style, which blends Eastern philosophical reflection with English literary expression and has had a lasting influence on modern prose poetry and spiritual reading.