The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East (1978–1984): A Graphic Novel

Riad Sattouf’s graphic novel is an autobiographical account of the author’s childhood in the Middle East between 1978 and 1984. The book tells the story of a young boy born to a Syrian father and a French mother who moves with his parents from France first to Libya and then to Syria. With humor and insight, the author describes growing up between two cultures, depicting the complex political and social realities of the Middle East of that era through the eyes of a child. This is not only a personal memoir, but also a unique look at the history, traditions, and contradictions of the region.