Riad Sattouf (Author and Protagonist)

Riad Sattouf is an award-winning Franco-Syrian cartoonist, the author of the work, and the main character. Sattouf's depictions of his childhood through the graphic memoir form allows him to create layers of understanding about how he was raised, the formation of his identity, and the politics of the Arab world at that time. In addition to a narrative style plot that follows Riad as a child, Sattouf utilizes commentary and narration to clarify what is actually happening around Riad and how these events have shaped the history of the modern Middle East. Sattouf's illustrations create a depth of conflict and characterization that demonstrates the dynamic nature of the people that influenced Riad as a child.

Riad, as he appears in the memoir, is an innocent child who is trying to make sense of the world around him. However, his world is constantly in...