Meet the Author: Marjane Satrapi

Marjane Satrapi is an Iranian-born French writer, artist, and filmmaker. She wrote Persepolis to fight against stereotypes and show that Iranian people are not extremists - they are individuals with dreams, struggles, and humor.

Historical Context of Persepolis

• The many events that Marjane illustrates in Persepolis follow a linear path from the 1979 Iranian Revolution, to the political and social upheaval immediately following it with the rise of the Islamic Republic after a nationwide referendum, to the subsequent Iraq-Iran War, which still rages at the end of the graphic novel. 

• The 1979 Revolution, which was marked by mass protests and political disobedience, led to the fleeing and overthrowing of the autocratic the American-backed Shah, who had been the king of Iran after inheriting the title from his father. 

• The Shah was particularly known for his attempts at modernizing the country, for his land reform policies, and his reliance on a brutal secret police to realize his aims. 

• In 1980, Iraq attacked Iran, which led to the eight-year long Iran-Iraq war, which left hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers dead.

🎥 1. Watch Before You Read

Learn how Iran transformed from a modern monarchy under the Shah to a strict Islamic Republic. This is the revolution that changed Marji’s world forever.

📌 While watching, write down:

One thing that surprised you

One thing that confused you

One thing you want to know more about