Donkey’s Bookshelf: The Unfiltered Power of “Persepolis” (2026)

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In our second installment of Donkey’s Bookshelf, we are moving from the satirical streets of New Orleans in A Confederacy of Dunces to the transformative landscape of Tehran. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is not merely a “comic book,” it is a profound, visual, and deeply personal account of the Iranian Revolution that has become a global literary staple.

If you’re looking for a book that combines high-end intellectual weight with raw, accessible storytelling, this is your next essential read.

The Layout: What is it About?

Persepolis is an autobiographical graphic novel that follows Marjane (Marji) from her childhood in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution to her high school years in Vienna, and her eventual return to Iran. Through Marji’s eyes, we see a world shifting from the cosmopolitan 1970s to a regime of strict religious law.

It is a story of political and personal rebellion. Whether she’s listening to Iron Maiden in secret or navigating the complexities of being an immigrant in Europe, Marji’s voice is sharp, witty, and devastatingly honest.

• Donkey Verdict: Don’t let the “graphic” format fool you. The stark, black-and-white illustrations remove the clutter of reality, forcing you to focus on the raw emotion and the “theology and geometry” of a life caught between two worlds.

Three Reasons to Add Persepolis to Your Shelf in 2026

1. A Human Perspective on History

We often see history through the lens of dry textbooks or “perplexingly scattered” news reports. Persepolis does the “Donkey Work” of humanizing the headlines, showing the family dinners, the teenage angst, and the quiet bravery of ordinary people living through extraordinary times.

2. Visual Minimalism

The art style is deliberately simple—high-contrast black-and-white. This fits perfectly with the SMAO neutral aesthetic. It’s sophisticated enough for a coffee table and profound enough for a graduate seminar.

3. Universal Themes of Identity

At its core, this is a story about finding out who you are when the world keeps trying to tell you who you should be. It’s about the “friction” of identity, a theme that resonates just as strongly in 2026 as it did when it was first published.

Donkey’s Bookshelf: The Snapshot

The Final Word

Persepolis is a masterclass in telling a complex story with minimalist tools. It is a mandatory addition to any collection that values truth, history, and the power of the individual voice.

To explore the broader impact of graphic literature and its role in modern storytelling, visit the Library of Congress archives.