Widely known in America as author of The Prophet, which sold more copies in the twentieth century than any other book but the Bible, the great Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) first became known to Americans in 1918 with the publication of The Madman.
Thought-provoking and inspiring, the book is a collection of memorable, life-affirming parables and poems, many of them casting an ironic light on the beliefs, aspirations, and vanities of humankind -- and many reminiscent of the work of Tagore and Nietzsche, both of whom were strong influences on Gibran.
Among the 35 poems and parables in this volume are "How I Became a Madman," "The Two Hermits," "The Wise Dog," "The Good God and the Evil God," "Night and the Madman," "The Three Ants," "When My Sorrow Was Born," "And When My Joy Was Born," and many more. The book includes several illustrations by the author, whose exquisite drawings are reminiscent of Rodin and the best of Blake.
