The Prophet

Published in 1923, THE PROPHET is the narrative of Almustafa, a man preparing to return to the island of his birth after 12 years away. Before he departs, the people of his adopted city ask him to reflect on ideas such as love, the law, freedom, and self-knowledge. His answers are poetic and wise--the style is closer to the Gospels than to today's crop of inspirational titles--and their beauty is enhanced by the pitch-perfect narration of Paul Sparer. Sparer has a magnificent voice that can't help but evoke Orson Welles. Whatever your religious bent, this recording, first released in 1985, is well worth a listen. D.B. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine


Listening to this masterful narration by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer is a solid choice for those wanting to enjoy Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran's prose. The narrators share his wisdom for the ages in beautifully read phrases. Exhortations on marriage, justice, family, and politics are delivered as memorable aphorisms. In a deep baritone Kramer takes on the words of the prophet from whom people ask advice. His authoritative and confident performance is balanced by Kate Reading's tender delivery of the chapters she reads. Listeners are folded into her firm yet loving maternal embrace. The production has two options for listening: one with musical interludes and one without. M.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine