Originally published to wide critical acclaim in France, where itelicited comparisons to Art Spiegelman's Maus, Persepolis is MarjaneSatrapi's wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iranduring the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic stripimages, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six tofourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumphof the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war withIraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists andthe great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bearswitness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of hercountry. Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life inIran: of the bewildering contradictions between home life and publiclife and of the enormous toll repressive regimes exact on the individualspirit. Marjane's child's-eye-view of dethroned emperors,state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us tolearn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her ownextraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, andwholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and astunning reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. Itshows how we carry on, through laughter and tears, in the face ofabsurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girlwith whom we cannot help but fall in love.