On the left, May Ziadeh by John Sayre for Al Jadid. On the right, Gibran Khalil Gibran by Emile Menhem for Al Jadid.
For the ordinary reader, “Love Letters” is a short yet savorable book, with letters you can thumb through when drawn to thoughtful musings or aspirations to better oneself. For those interested in Gibran as either a literary giant or an artist, this collection of letters provides a nuanced narrative of his deep spiritual yearnings, dedication to his work, extended gentleness, and benevolent humor. This touching correspondence between these two seminal intellectuals weaves together their mundane concerns, from Ziadeh’s change of hairstyle to intimate emotional and spiritual revelations, as well as Gibran’s aesthetic reflections, adding an empathic human depth to further appreciate both his art and life as an artist.
Excerpted from Lynne Rogers’ "To a Woman He Never Met: What Gibran’s Love Letters to May Ziadeh Reveal About the Inner Life of the ‘Prophet’s’ Author," which appeared in Al Jadid Magazine, Vol. 27, No. 84, 2023 and Inside Al Jadid Reports, No. 56, 2023.
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