Exemplary summary

Satrapi's work was first recognised in the US in 2003 - first as a series of articles, then as a full bok - and praised as a didactic statement of a middle-eastern woman who experienced the atrocities of war and prejudice first hand. "Persepolis", however, is not an ordinary book not only because of its content; a huge part of the story is expressed by drawings, which places it among the various categories of graphic novels. The author herself can also be categorised as distinctive. Defying the stereotype of an Iranian female, Satrapi reveals her background as a double graduatee (in Iran and in France), fluent in several languages, who comes from a fairly liberal family. Yet, despite her skills, it was not until she met a colleague whose work encouraged her not only to translate her memories and stances into a material form but also to abandon the notion of autobiography as a plain text riddled by dates. Satrapi's persistence and creativity, however, can not be diminished in any way, as "Persepolis" was first released without any promotion or any similar assistance from the publisher; it was the merit of her work that touched its readers that the work was solely popularised by the word of mouth. The non-conventional seems to be a returning theme in Satrapi's life - both as a human being and as an artist. It is only fair to describe what the reader can expect from the book itself as falling into the line. The simplicity of the graphic aspect of "Persepolis" remains in contrast with its written content, filled with a raw description of the Iranian Revolution and unrestrained channelling of emotions and personal struggles. And the biggest surprise of all? The book is unavailable for its potential readers in Iran due to the unpolished and uncensored depictions of the powers governing the Iranian society - the only translation into Farsi has never been authorised, and can only be obtained illegally.