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Spirits Rebellious / The Madman/ The Forerunner
The selection in this volume features an anthology of four short stories published originally in Arabic as "Spirits Rebellious" (1908) and two collections of parables... "The Forerunner" and "The Madman" (1932).
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Kahlil Gibran
1,456 books15.4k followersKahlil Gibran (Arabic:
جبران خليل جبران
) was a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
Born in the town of Bsharri in modern-day Lebanon (then part of Ottoman Mount Lebanon), as a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. In the Arab world, Gibran is regarded as a literary and political rebel. His romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature, especially prose poetry, breaking away from the classical school. In Lebanon, he is still celebrated as a literary hero.
He is chiefly known in the English-speaking world for his 1923 book The Prophet, an early example of inspirational fiction including a series of philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book sold well despite a cool critical reception, gaining popularity in the 1930s and again, especially in the 1960s counterculture.
Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 3, 2013
I LOVE Gibran!!! Social justice and spiritual freedom written with such eloquence!! My favorite story: The Cry of the Graves.
My favorite quotes:
"When a man kills another man, the people say he is a murderer, but when the Emir kills him, the Emir is just....Shedding of blood is forbidden, but who made it lawful for the Emir?"
"Shall we meet evil with evil and say this the Law? Shall we conquer crimes with more crimes and say this is justice?....who stoned the adulteress? were they virtuous hermits who came from their monasteries, or humans who loved to commit atrocities with glee, under the protection of ignorant Law?
"Why are you living in the shadow of parasitism, segregating yourselves from the people who are in need of knowledge?" (pg. 65 Khalil the Heretic).
My favorite quotes:
"When a man kills another man, the people say he is a murderer, but when the Emir kills him, the Emir is just....Shedding of blood is forbidden, but who made it lawful for the Emir?"
"Shall we meet evil with evil and say this the Law? Shall we conquer crimes with more crimes and say this is justice?....who stoned the adulteress? were they virtuous hermits who came from their monasteries, or humans who loved to commit atrocities with glee, under the protection of ignorant Law?
"Why are you living in the shadow of parasitism, segregating yourselves from the people who are in need of knowledge?" (pg. 65 Khalil the Heretic).
June 25, 2025
Gibran : The Forerunner / Beyond My Solitude
Beyond My Solitude
Beyond my solitude is another solitude, and to him who dwells therein my aloneness is a crowded market-place and my silence a confusion of sounds.
Too young am I and too restless to seek that above-solitude. The voices of yonder valley still hold my ears and its shadows bar my way and I cannot go.
Beyond these hills is a grove of enchantment and to him who dwells therein my peace is but a whirlwind and my enchantment an illusion.
Too young am I and too riotous to seek that sacred grove. The taste of blood is clinging in my mouth, and the bow and the arrows of my fathers yet linger in my hand and I cannot go.
Beyond this burdened self lives my freer self; and to him my dreams are a battle fought in twilight and my desires the rattling of bones.
Too young am I and too outraged to be my freer self.
And how shall I become my freer self unless I slay my burdened selves, or unless all men become free?
How shall the eagle in me soar against the sun until my fledglings leave the nest which I with my own beak have built for them?
Beyond My Solitude
Beyond my solitude is another solitude, and to him who dwells therein my aloneness is a crowded market-place and my silence a confusion of sounds.
Too young am I and too restless to seek that above-solitude. The voices of yonder valley still hold my ears and its shadows bar my way and I cannot go.
Beyond these hills is a grove of enchantment and to him who dwells therein my peace is but a whirlwind and my enchantment an illusion.
Too young am I and too riotous to seek that sacred grove. The taste of blood is clinging in my mouth, and the bow and the arrows of my fathers yet linger in my hand and I cannot go.
Beyond this burdened self lives my freer self; and to him my dreams are a battle fought in twilight and my desires the rattling of bones.
Too young am I and too outraged to be my freer self.
And how shall I become my freer self unless I slay my burdened selves, or unless all men become free?
How shall the eagle in me soar against the sun until my fledglings leave the nest which I with my own beak have built for them?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2018
"They (the people) look only at the surface of objects without knowing their secrets. They pass their verdicts with ignorance, and judge with blindness, making the criminal and the innocent, the good and the bad, equal. Woe to those who prosecute and judge the people. . . ."
It's an easy read. A quick insight into the society. This book reminded me of how quick we can be to judge anyone without realising the predicament our judgements might bring. Three different stories, unknitted but brutal and reflective. But the book ends with a 'Happy' but too overwhelming a note, which in my opinion was a bit difficult to digest and thus the rating! You should read it, 'twill hardly burden thou.
It's an easy read. A quick insight into the society. This book reminded me of how quick we can be to judge anyone without realising the predicament our judgements might bring. Three different stories, unknitted but brutal and reflective. But the book ends with a 'Happy' but too overwhelming a note, which in my opinion was a bit difficult to digest and thus the rating! You should read it, 'twill hardly burden thou.
June 17, 2022
Spirits Rebellious was amazing
August 14, 2019
I loved this book, a very unique writing style & the way the author conveyed his message to the readers. Its a compilation of 3 short stories all with a heart touching moral.
This book talks about freedom, liberation, justice for all and humility in humanity. It talks about how we are blinded by our society and are having a wrong concept of love & marriage, justice & injustice and most importantly, we are keep following someone’s footsteps without listening to the songs that nature sing for us.
loved this quote from the book:
“A human hand drove me into desperation and a human hand rescued me; how severe man is, and how merciful man is!”
This book talks about freedom, liberation, justice for all and humility in humanity. It talks about how we are blinded by our society and are having a wrong concept of love & marriage, justice & injustice and most importantly, we are keep following someone’s footsteps without listening to the songs that nature sing for us.
loved this quote from the book:
“A human hand drove me into desperation and a human hand rescued me; how severe man is, and how merciful man is!”
February 19, 2023
'Spirit Rebellious' is a collection of four stories each delicately woven into heart stirring craftsmanship that makes one sigh with amazement at the words that make the story. Khalil Gibran is a poet who writes prose and makes us all want to dream about writing like him. He is indeed a "poets dream" and a "prophet's vision".
March 3, 2019
One of the best piece of literature. It would be criminal not mentioning how poetic it's prose is. This book evokes questions that this society is still afraid to ask.
Definitely soon gonna re-read this.
Definitely soon gonna re-read this.
March 6, 2020
Brilliant writting- poetic prose ! Such a treat to read. The tales of bravery questioning the societil norms ,it's hipocrisy are so conscience awakening. A must reread .
September 25, 2022
A beautiful short story, spirits rebellious will make you think about all the young ladies who offered their bodies to their older husbands without being in love.
March 4, 2024
The book is about awareness of holy law and the suffering of men kind by man made rules
April 20, 2024
Such poetic words and inspiring stories, khalil Gibran speaks directly to the soul… A must read.
September 28, 2010
Sangat puitis, sehingga aku kadang sukar mengerti...
Tapi aku suka!
Tapi aku suka!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews