Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.The narrative traces her journey from a secular French school to the requirement of wearing the veil, while capturing the private rebellions of a family trying to maintain a sense of normalcy under a repressive regime. Satrapi’s perspective provides a human face to a geopolitical conflict, illustrating the cost of war and political change through the eyes of a girl who loves punk rock, Michael Jackson, and her family, all while navigating the complexities of faith, identity, and freedom.
