About us
The Diwan: Arab Arts & Letters Society is a welcoming community for anyone curious about the rich literary, artistic, and intellectual traditions of the Arab world. Through books, poetry, film, music, philosophy, and occasional guest speakers, we explore the voices that have shaped (and continue to shape) one of the world's great cultural traditions.
Our selections may include celebrated figures such as Kahlil Gibran, Naguib Mahfouz, Mahmoud Darwish, Adonis, Al-Mutanabbi, Etel Adnan, Ibn Arabi, Rumi, and many others, alongside contemporary novels, classic and independent films, visual art, and music from across the region.
This is not a political discussion group. While history and context naturally inform great works of art, our focus is on literature, beauty, creativity, philosophy, spirituality, humor, and the shared human experiences reflected in these works.
Join us for thoughtful conversations, new friendships, and an opportunity to discover the extraordinary cultural heritage of the Arab world - one story, poem, and film at a time.
Featured event
"Broken Wings" by Kahlil Gibran
*This Event will be Online*
In this meetup, we will be discussing Kahlil Gibran's "Broken Wings" - so please read it in advance and come prepared to discuss!
Broken Wings (Arabic: الأجنحة المتكسرة, romanized: al-ajniḥa al-mutakassira) is a poetic novel or novella written in Arabic by Kahlil Gibran and first published in 1912 by the printing house of the periodical Meraat-ul-Gharb in New York. It is a tale of tragic love, set at the turn of the 20th century in Beirut. A young woman, Selma Karamy, is betrothed to a prominent religious man's nephew. The protagonist (a young man that Gibran perhaps modeled after himself) falls in love with this woman. They begin to meet in secret, however they are discovered, and Selma is forbidden to leave her house, breaking their hopes and hearts.[1]
The book highlights many of the social issues of the time in the Eastern Mediterranean, including religious corruption, the rights of women (and lack thereof), and the weighing up of wealth and happiness.
The book was later adapted as the 1962 Lebanese film The Broken Wings.
Upcoming events
1
"Broken Wings" by Kahlil Gibran
·OnlineOnline*This Event will be Online*
In this meetup, we will be discussing Kahlil Gibran's "Broken Wings" - so please read it in advance and come prepared to discuss!
Broken Wings (Arabic: الأجنحة المتكسرة, romanized: al-ajniḥa al-mutakassira) is a poetic novel or novella written in Arabic by Kahlil Gibran and first published in 1912 by the printing house of the periodical Meraat-ul-Gharb in New York. It is a tale of tragic love, set at the turn of the 20th century in Beirut. A young woman, Selma Karamy, is betrothed to a prominent religious man's nephew. The protagonist (a young man that Gibran perhaps modeled after himself) falls in love with this woman. They begin to meet in secret, however they are discovered, and Selma is forbidden to leave her house, breaking their hopes and hearts.[1]
The book highlights many of the social issues of the time in the Eastern Mediterranean, including religious corruption, the rights of women (and lack thereof), and the weighing up of wealth and happiness.
The book was later adapted as the 1962 Lebanese film The Broken Wings.6 attendees
Past events
1
