Ameen Rihani’s interest in knowledge and literature was kindled at an early age. He began writing in English, becoming, according to Lebanese historian Samir Kassir, “the first Arab to publish in English without at the same time renouncing his own language.” His literary work was part of a flourishing movement of Arab writers in North America at the time, notably including Gibran Khalil Gibran who also wrote in both Arabic and English.
www.ameenrihani.org

Founder of The Arab American Literature, he is the first Lebanese Arab to:

- Introduce free verse to modern Arabic poetry

- Write and publish a novel in English

He is also a writer and author of:

- 29 volumes in English

- 26 volumes in Arabic

Khalil Gibran

Much of Gibran’s writings deal with Christianity, especially on the topic of spiritual love. His poetry is notable for its use of formal language, as well as insights on topics of life using spiritual terms.

Gibran’s best-known work is The Prophet, a book composed of twenty-six poetic essays. The book became especially popular during the 1960s with the American counterculture and New Age movements. Since it was first published in 1923, The Prophet has never been out of print and remains world-renowned to this day. Having been translated into more than twenty languages, it was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century in the United States.

Khalil Gibran Memorial - Washington DC