The Prophet: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

by Kahlil Gibran, A. David Lewis, Justin Rentería (Artist)

One of the best-known and most-translated works of free verse poetry ever published in the English language, The Prophet, by Lebanon-born Khalil Gibran, tells the story of the prophet Almustafa, who was banished from his homeland, and lived twelve years as a refugee in the fictional city of Orphalese. One day, as Almustafa prepares to board the ship that will take him home, he addresses a gathering of townspeople who have come to see him off. His parting words of wisdom about the human condition reveal him to be a man who sees deeply into the hearts, minds, and souls and his fellow humans.
Illustrated by Justin Renteria in a 1920s Ottoman-inspired style and adapted by A. David Lewis, this is a vibrant, authentic, and skillfully paced graphic novel that is faithful to the original text. It includes an imagined backstory about the enigmatic main character. Appearing 100 years after the original publication of Gibran’s masterpiece, and at a time when entire groups of people are being forced to seek refuge elsewhere, this fresh and visually compelling rendering of The Prophet conveys the original work’s bracing and inspirational message about what it means to live well in today’s the world.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Poetry, Comics

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2023

About the author

Kahlil 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.

Reviews

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cool concept for introducing people to Gibran's poetry. I've been meaning to read The Prophet and this seemed like an entrypoint, and I think it is just that- an entrypoint. It makes me want to read the full volume and see what that experience is like. I have mixed feelings about the graphics- sometimes they added to what was being said, sometimes it was more of a distraction. But worth a look! He has a lot to say about life, death, love, marriage and more. I received a copy of this for review, all opinions are my own.

[Adam M · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I reviewed this for No Flying No Tights, a review you can read here, I had no frame of reference for this book outside of knowing it was a popular assignment when I was in high school. I didn't dig into it with my review because I want to give the team behind this version the benefit of the doubt, but this text is nearly unreadable. I do not understand how you grind through the original. At least here with illustrations you can sort of give a personality to some of the people asking the central character to preach at them. Maybe there is an audience for this, but I found the walls of text so impenetrable that I don't know who is looking for this experience casually.

[Matthew Noe]

Review pending in Diamond BookShelf

[Sandy]

my first graphic novel

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when a 17-year-old freshman in college in the 1970's. It is a comfort to revisit it as an adult so many years later...

This adaptation of Gibran's poetry is a faithful rendering of the book by A. David Lewis.

A group of well-wishers has gathered to bid farewell to Almustafa, a refugee leaving his adopted home to return to his homeland. It includes backstory woven into the text that gives context to the old man's words of wisdom.

Told in one long narrative, Almustafa speaks of many topics through 26 fables: love, marriage, children, giving, eating/drinking, work, joy/sorrow, houses, clothes, buying/selling, crime/punishment, laws, freedom, reasoning/passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching friendship, talking, time, good/evil, prayer, beauty, religion, and death. An extensive afterword explains many choices made in this book.

Illustrations by Justin Rentería were inspired by a 1920s Ottoman art style. They are angular and capture the feeling of "long ago". Shown in B&W with gray wash, they convey the emotions and passion of Almustafa. I found Almitra's facial expressions at the end particularly poignant.

Though I appreciated the brevity of the piece (almost like reading Cliff Notes), I wish this adaptation had received some sort of subdivision or chapter markings so readers could go back to reread any given topic more quickly. Regardless, it still receives 5 stars from me.

Highly Recommended for grades 10-adult.

[Erikka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a professor who used to quote this at the beginning of every class. I always thought it sounded pretty, but I never drew much meaning from it. Reading it again as an adult, I feel like I understood it more but related to it less, oddly. When I was in college, I was a regular church-goer and I feel like some of the verses spoke to that part of me. Now I am a non-believer and I understand why they appealed to me, even with less comprehension. This book is heavily religious and centers everything in a person’s life on God. I still think it’s beautifully written, but it doesn’t speak to me like it spoke to her all those years ago. And frankly, I feel like that’s the gift of poetry: it is there to serve the purpose it serves in the moment.

That being said, I feel the art was distracting often and didn’t really add much to my comprehension of the story.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The well-known and much-quoted novel is given another graphic novel treatment. I enjoyed the illustration style and the expressive and vibrant way the illustrations "moved" across the page--no small feat for a book that is mainly philosophical and spiritual talk.

The thoughts of "the prophet" on a variety of subjects are presented. Some are poetic and lyrical. Others will appeal only to believers in a higher power. As it has in every form of this text I've encountered, the convoluted defense of slaughtering animals got my eye roll muscles working and once again reminds us that Defensive Omnivore Bingo is by no means a recent phenomenon.

[David Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adaptor has fleshed out more of the backstory connected with the Prophet Almustafa. The drawings are amazing. I enjoyed refreshing my memories of the original Gibran work. (Does ANYONE read him anymore, I wonder...?) -- All that said, I am not entirely convinced that the drawings enhance the book, but, if this brings a masterpiece to a new audience, it will have served its purpose. (I rather suspect that I am not in the intended demographic!)

[Linda Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully rendered version of The Prophet, 100 years after its original release, that shows how little the human condition has changed. I loved this version and hope it will keep the original text alive for generations to come.

[Cristian Marrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I never get tired of re-reading its messages. This graphic novel is perfectly broken down for any young reader and person who doesn't like reading long books. The artwork is lovely. A sea traveler sharing his wisdom of life. Great for meditation purposes as well.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good graphic novel.

[Matthew Pearce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations didn’t add a while lot to the story for me

[Sy A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,"

Gorgeous. The art only emphasizes the beauty of the words.