Paperback Edition of 'The Prophet' Coming Next Week

It only took 92 years for the U.S. publisher of Kahil Gibran's inspirational classic "The Prophet" to release the book in paperback.

The Penguin Random House imprint Vintage Books told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the new edition would be available July 21, two weeks before the opening of an animated film adaptation that features the voices of Liam Neeson and Selma Hayek.

"The Prophet" has sold more than 9 million copies in the U.S. alone since it was first published in 1923. It offers reflections on everything from marriage to clothing.

Vintage plans a first printing of 50,000 for the paperback.

Gibran, a native of Lebanon, died in 1931.