Key Facts about Persepolis
Publication and Format
- Originally published in French as four separate volumes between 2000-2003
- Combined into two volumes in English: "The Story of a Childhood" and "The Story of a Return"
- Written and illustrated in black and white graphic novel format
- First graphic novel to be nominated for the Prix Alph'Art Coup de Coeur at Angoulême
Author Background
- Written by Marjane Satrapi (born 1969 in Rasht, Iran)
- Based on her personal experiences growing up during and after the Iranian Revolution
- Comes from an upper-middle-class, politically progressive family in Tehran
- Left Iran for Vienna at age 14, returned at 18, and eventually settled in France
The autobiographical nature of the work gives it both historical significance and personal authenticity, making it a valuable text for studying perspective and voice.
Historical Context
- Set during and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution
- Covers the period from 1978 to the early 1990s
- Depicts the transition from the Shah's regime to the Islamic Republic
- Shows the impact of the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
Literary Style and Structure
- Combines elements of:
- Autobiography
- Coming-of-age story (Bildungsroman)
- Historical documentation
- Visual storytelling
- Narrated from both child and adult perspectives
- Uses humor and irony to address serious themes
