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Persepolis | 
| Author: Marjane Satrapi
Publisher: Vintage
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £5.51
You Save: £2.48 (31%)
New (29) Used (4) from £3.69
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 2456
Media: Paperback
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1.1
ISBN: 009952399X
EAN: 9780099523994
ASIN: 009952399X
Publication Date: March 6, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis is an exemplary autobiographical graphic novel, in the tradition of Art Spiegelman's classic Maus. Set in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, it follows the young Satrapi, six-year-old daughter of two committed and well-to-do Marxists. As she grows up, she witnesses first-hand the effects that the revolution and the war with Iraq have on her home, family and school. Like Maus, the main strength of Persepolis is its ability to make the political personal. Told through the eyes of a child (as reflected in Satrapi's simplistic yet expressive black-and-white artwork), the story shows how young Marjane learns about her family history and how it is entwined with the history of Iran, and watches her liberal parents cope with a fundamentalist regime that gets increasingly rigid as it gains more power. Outspoken and intelligent, Marjane chafes at Iran's increasingly conservative interpretation of Islamic law, especially as she grows into a bright and independent teenager. Throughout, Marjane remains a hugely likeable young woman Persepolis gives the reader a snapshot of daily life in a country struggling with an internal cultural revolution and a bloody war, but within an intensely personal context. It's a very human history, beautifully and sympathetically told. --Robert Burrow
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 more novel than graphic September 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a very touching book, very illuminating and very inspiring. It humanises a people that, unfortunately, we often feel to be nothing more than crazy islamic fundamentals and murderers. This is obviously not the case and it is nice to read a book that gently explains this...though there are plenty examples of the horror one would expect from living under such a regime.
the only gripe i have with this book is it's format. They have published this as a book rather than a graphic novel. As such the art and the text are tiny, and it can be physically difficult to read and pick up on the subtlties of the (lovely) artwork contained within. They must have done this so that people can read this on trains or what have you and avoid the 'comic book' look and so capitalise on the recently released animated movie (I won't lie...this is why I bought the book too). Graphic novels may not be as chic as a book but Persepolis would benefit from the size and glossy finish that the graphic novel format would provide.
only a minor flaw to be honest but i really do feel that to read this in book form is like watching a film in old VHS when you clearly could get a much clearer and much more rewarding experience with the Blu ray version....you just weren't given the option cos the publishers etc etc wanted to reach a larger audience
 Gripping graphic novel August 20, 2008
This is a simply told story that touches on some very big ideas; the Islamic revolution; loyalty and family; and which boys you should fancy.
The main character is charming, naive, sympathetic and occasionally annoying - in other words, a very convincing young woman.
A fantastic read, especially if you think you don't like comic books!
Read it!! August 18, 2008
I am no comic book fan, in fact I am closer to the opposite. I have always thought the term 'graphic novel' was just a term to make it OK for grown-up to read comics. So when this book was given to me as a present, I was doubtful..
But then I read the first page, and I was hooked! To tell the truth, I forgot that it was a comic I was reading, I was so onvolved in the story. The narrative just washes over you, and rather than the pictures becoming an annoyance as I though they would, they just added to the whole experience. I was impressed!
As for the story, it is intimate, delicate, honest and sometimes raw and shocking as well as touchingly funny. It is hugely informative, and presents a much needed fresh perspective on our own prejudices.
Loved it!!
Highly Recommended April 29, 2008
22 out of 23 found this review helpful
This is a fantastic comic that will appeal to both comic fans & non-comic fans alike.
Despite the Amazon title, this edition "Persepolis. The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return" actually contains the complete Persepolis series.
"The Story of a Childhood" was original published in France as Persepolis 1 & 2, "The Story of a Return" was original published in France as Persepolis 3 & 4
 recommended but don't take it seriously November 6, 2004
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
As an Iranian living in the UK reading Ms Satrapi's book took me years back to the hell I experienced as an adolescent during the rule of the Islamic Republic. I remembered the fear of air attacks, went through the same sadness and joys which made most of my formative years.
The book is intriguing and takes you with it. Ms Satrapi has a gift of writing with a dark humour which at the same time makes you laugh and cry. It deals with raw emotions of a young child in the middle of the war and turmoil. These emotions are the building blocks of our lives and this makes everyone from different backgrounds understand an empathise with that little girl and in this regard the author should be congratulated.
The cartoons are of great quality and despite simplicity you can see wide range of emotions expressed by the characters.
Living through the war and revolution is not an easy experience, displaying it with humour is a hard task which the author fulfills with proficiency.
On the other hand one must not try to learn Iranian history from this book.
Most of the events are from the eye of a Marxist which makes the narrative biased. In other words seeking iranian revolution history from this book is like learning WW2 history from the film U-571!
Many of the accounts are inaccurate e.g. the last Emperor of Qajar dynasty had no child. Also the fact that the cinema was burned by Shah's regime is something that even the Islamic Republic does not claim now!
All in all I enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it to anyone who wants an emotional account of the revolution and war in Iran.
Best of luck for Ms Satrapi's future books.
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