Marjane Satrapi, Author of 'Persepolis,' Dies at 56

Marjane Satrapi, the Iranian-French author whose graphic novel series “Persepolis” introduced millions of readers to the struggles of normal Iranians in the turbulent years around the Islamic Revolution, has died at 56.

The office of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, announced her death on Thursday in a statement, which did not specify where, when or how she died.

“Her passing marks the loss of a leading figure in French culture and a freedom-loving artist whose work carried a universal message and earned her immense international acclaim,” the presidency said in its statement.

After the publication of “Persepolis” more than two decades ago, Ms. Satrapi became one of the best-known exponents of an ascendant form of graphic novel that combined political history and memoir. Its protagonist, Marji, was depicted living through some of the most difficult years of Iranian history, closely mirroring the life of Ms. Satrapi herself.

Both the author and her character were born in Iran in 1969. Both were about 10 when the Shah was overthrown. Both lived through the rise of the clerics and the horror of the Iran-Iraq war, and both left Iran at age 14 to try to make a life in Austria.

Ms. Satrapi moved in 1994 to Paris, where she wrote the “Persepolis” series. The first volume was published in English in 2003, with the second volume released in English a year later.

Millions of readers bought the books, which are among the most internationally famous works exploring the interior worlds of modern Iranians.