'The Arab of the Future' is a series of autobiographical comics by French author and director Riad Sattouf. He recounts his childhood, which he spent in Libya, Syria, and France in the shadow of three dictators—Muammar Gaddafi, Hafez al-Assad, and his own father.
His father, a staunch pan-Arabist, is obsessed with the idea of brotherhood and the greatness of the Arab world, but also cherishes the dream of building a villa that he can drive up to in a brand new Mercedes. He meets Riad's future mother, a French student, in Paris, but ultimately has no choice but to follow her husband's ideals. The story, told through the lips of a child, not only reflects the nature of family relationships, but also impartially reveals the realities of the Middle East in the 80s, sometimes reaching the point of absurdity.
The graphic novel 'The Arab of the Future' has been translated into 22 languages, was awarded the Los Angeles Times Books Prize and the main prize of the International Comics Festival in Angoulême.
Author: Sattouf Riad
Publishing House: Boomkniga
Year: 2018
Number of pages: 160
Cover type: hardback
Translator: Anna Khazina
Illustrator: Sattouf Riad
Country of origin: France
Age group: young adults, adults








