Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was a poet, philosopher, and artist, born in Lebanon, a land that has produced many prophets. The millions of Arabic-speaking peoples familiar with his writings in that language consider him the genius of his age. But he was a man whose fame and influence spread far beyond the Near East. His poetry has been translated into more than twenty languages. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in the great capitals of the world. In the United States, which he made his home during the last twenty years of his life, he began to write in English. He studied arts in Paris, after which settled in New York City.