Khalil Gibran's beautiful masterpiece, "The Broken Wings," was initially released in Arabic in 1912. This tragic love story takes place in Beirut at the turn of the 20th century. Selma Karamy, a young woman, is engaged to the nephew of a well-known religious figure. The protagonist, a young guy Gibran may have based after himself, develops feelings for her. Their hopes and hearts are dashed when Selma is barred from leaving her house after they find out about their covert meetings. Numerous societal problems of the time in the Eastern Mediterranean are highlighted in the book, such as religious corruption, women's rights (and lack thereof), and the trade-off between happiness and riches.