In the tradition of Romeo and Juliet, this is a classic story of young lovers torn apart by family and class conflicts. Interlaced with subtle imagery and deep philosophy, Gibran creates a masterpiece of first love that beats desperately against the taboos of oriental tradition. With great sensitivity and lyricism, Gibran describes his passion as a youth for Selma Karamy, the beautiful girl of Beirut who first unfolded to him the secrets of love. But it is a love that is doomed by a social convention which forces Selma into marriage with another man.