Lebanese-American artist and writer (1883–1931) best known for his writings on religion and for his best-selling 1923 spiritual-philosophical classic The Prophet, one of the emblematic texts of the 1960s counterculture in America. Scarce ALS, one page both sides, 6.5 x 10.5, personal letterhead, September 15, 1927. Gibran writes from Boston, where he lived and studied from his early teenage years, to Mable G. Bryan in Augusta, Maine. In part: “It is so good of you to ask after my health, and I am indeed grateful to you. My health is infinitely better now. Living out of doors has done a great deal for me physically. And besides I have not been allowed to do any work. But I have come to the conclusion, however, that hell is a place where no one is allowed to work. I agree with you that some wives are inquisitive, and also some husbands. But I have not the one nor am I the other. So, you see, my life is much simpler than the other person’s life. To be sure, my secretary takes care of my impersonal letters, and he does his work quite well. Yes, I am interested in languages, and of course I have always known French. And though I am not a linguist, philology has been, and is now, one of the most interesting subjects to me. I think that the history of words is the history of the human mind…You ask me why I am interested in you and in your letters. As an answer I would say: Why did I write ‘The Pprophet’ [sic], the little book which you said you like? Is there really a difference between writing a poem and a letter—that is if the writer does not know the difference? In a day or two I am going to New Hampshire. Most of the time I shall be alone in the forest. Write to me if you should care to do so.” Somewhat fragile intersecting folds with miniscule edge separations, otherwise fine condition. Gibran autographic material is rare in itself, and this is an exceptionally desirable piece due to its outstanding content—he mentions his famous "little book," which weighed in at just over 100 pages, as well as his interest in language and writing. Of particular interest is his conflation of authoring poems and letters, as it relates to the style used in The Prophet—it is often described as a collection of prose poetry essays, combining the factual prose of the letter with the musicality of the poem. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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