Iranian-born author Marjane Satrapi will read from and talk about her autobiographical book, "Persepolis," on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 11:30 a.m. in Wheelwright Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

All Coastal freshmen were required to read "Persepolis" over the summer as part of the university's "Big Read" program, a shared intellectual experience for the incoming students.

The book is a "graphic" novel, employing black and white, comic strip images to tell a serious story. Set during the 1970s and 1980s, it describes the experiences of a young girl growing up in Iran whose life is turned upside down as a result of the Islamic revolution and the war with Iraq. The international bestseller has been translated in German, Dutch, Portugese, Spanish and Italian.

Satrapi was born in 1969 in Rasht, Iran. She grew up in Tehran, where she studied at the Lycee Francais before leaving for Vienna and then going to Strasbourg to study illustration. She currently lives in Paris, where her illustrations appear regularly in newspapers and magazines. She is also the author of several children's books.

Following the talk, Satrapi will sign copies of "Persepolis" and her other two books, "Persepolis II" and "Embroideries."

For more information, call Nelljean Rice at 349-2437.