Kahlil Gibran's first book in English is a collection of short parables and prose poems, written in 1918, in which the Madman speaks. The opening piece tells how he lost his masks when thieves stole them while he slept, and so became free of how others see him. Later fables feature kings, philosophers, a frog, a sleepwalker and a gentle ironic view of society, wealth and conformity. Gibran writes in the compressed and symbolic mode that later marked The Prophet.
It suits readers who like aphoristic spiritual writing and short fables. It's a quick read to be taken in pieces, a good start for those curious about Gibran before The Prophet.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and open-ended; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1918
- Language
- EN
