I read Khalil Gibran for the first time in my first year
of university. Originally written in Arabic Spirits
Rebellious caused great agitation and trouble after its publication. It was
burnt by both the Church and the angered state officials as it was considered a
threat to state stability. Back then Lebanon was under brutal Turkish rule.
Gibran rose against the religious and political injustice
during that time. Specifically the story of Khalil
the heretic in this book caused the great annoyance to the ruling Sultans.
Two other stories titled Madame Rose Hanie and The cry of the graves are also
in the book. Spirits Rebellious portrays Gibran’s protest over inequality between
man and woman, failure of principles of law and justice and corrupt practices
of religious administration.
