Description
By (author) Chandler, Paul-Gordon; Foreword by Curry, Bishop Michael B.
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“A profound spiritual exploration into the life and work of the beloved poet Kahlil Gibran, a much-needed guide for our times.” –Reza Aslan, author of Zealot
In Search of a Prophet is a fascinating journey through the spiritual life of Kahlil Gibran, the great Lebanese poet and author of The Prophet, a book originally published in 1923 that has sold over 10 million copies and been translated into dozens of languages. Capturing our imaginations and enriching our spirits, Paul-Gordon Chandler explores this beloved writer and artist, a celebrated mystic who sought to build bridges and tear down walls and who remains a cultural icon among all people of goodwill. In Search of a Prophet is not a traditional biography but a compelling spiritual journey through Gibran’s writings, art, and the places he lived. From Gibran’s birthplace village high in the snowy mountains of Lebanon, Chandler leads us through his emigration to Boston, art training in Paris, career in New York, and to the far-reaching places of influence his writings and art have traveled, alerting readers of Gibran’s continuing relevance for today.
This paperback edition, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Prophet, includes a foreword by The Most Rev. Bishop Michael Curry, former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, as well as a new preface by the author.
Table of contents:
Chapter One: The Sacred Valley
Chapter Two: The Heretic
Chapter Three: The Lover
Chapter Four: The Madman
Chapter Five: The Tempest
Chapter Six: The Prophet
Chapter Seven: The Son of Man
Chapter Eight: The Wanderer
Chapter Nine: A Man for Our Times
Timeline of the Life of Kahlil Gibran
Review quote:
Chandler blends memoir and biography in this introductory exploration of poet Kahlil Gibran’s influences, writings, and impact. He traces Gibran’s life from his birth in Lebanon in 1883 and his immigration to the United States in 1895 to his return to the Middle East in 1899 and his encounters with leading artistic figures in Europe before his death in 1931. Each chapter centers on a key work of Gibran’s, with ample excerpts to get a sense of his style and messages. This orderly chronology will help readers fill in details and get a better sense of what events shaped Gibran’s work, including personal losses, World War I, and the dislocation of being an immigrant. Those unfamiliar with the poet’s work will gain solid insights into how and why Gibran sought out universal reconciliation of the religious impulses stemming from his Maronite Catholic upbringing, his Arab identity, and his Western education. Chandler includes anecdotes from his own travels, including (but not exclusively) to sites related to Gibran’s life…. [This book] provides a solid introduction to Gibran and his complex work.
Review quote:
Episcopal priest Chandler (Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road) concedes that there are many fine biographies of Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931), the early 20th-century artist and writer best known for The Prophet. Instead, Chandler invites readers to follow Gibran’s spiritual journey, of which Prophet is but one vista. The narrative is also a record of Chandler’s own pilgrimage. With each stop, Chandler reveals how Gibran’s intense embrace of all that was around him mirrored a direct spiritual encounter that underlies the edifice of religion. Chandler enriches the narrative with quotes from Gibran’s works and letters, s of his artwork, reflections from people who knew him and those for whom his works are still transformative. Gibran was bound and embraced by many worlds: East and West, Muslim and Christian, pastoral and urban, ancient and modern; intoxicated with the teachings of Jesus, but not the church. VERDICT Chandler succeed
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