Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction

infobox Book |
name = Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Sue Townsend
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Adrian Mole
genre = Fiction
publisher = Michael Joseph
release_date = 7 October 2004
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 352 pp (first edition, hardback)
isbn = ISBN 0718146891 (first edition, hardback)
preceded_by =
followed_by = nonePublished in 2004 by Penguin Books, "Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction" is Sue Townsend's sixth full Adrian Mole novel (as opposed to "and the Small Amphibians" and the Guardian serial) and the confirmed finale. It is set in 2002/3 and Adrian is 33¾ years of age. The life of the protagonist is covered for one year, with a short epilogue that jumps to a time one year later (to 2004).

The title of the book refers to the weapons of mass destruction that were used as justification for the Iraq War. This is a recurring theme throughout the book, and bears true to the series' penchant for satire of contemporary social and political issues.

Plot summary

The story also deals with an issue that has affected Sue Townsend directly; she was registered blind in 2001, as a result of long-term diabetes. "Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction" was typed by Townsend's husband from dictation.

The novel is a bestseller due to the series' dedicated fan base, and has met with critical acclaim. Critics who? have praised the novel for its combination of sitcom-style humour with an underlying element of tragedy and pathos. Some consider it less comical and darker than the previous installment, . Critics claim that Mole's immature and angst-ridden personality has lost its appeal as he approaches middle-age, where it was endearing in a younger man. [” [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2004/10/31/botow31.xml&sSheet=/arts/2004/10/31/bomain.html] ]

The character of Adrian Mole arguably matures as this novel progresses. He becomes more realistic about his life and concentrates on his present problems and ambitions, rather than half-realised aspirations of fame and literary success. However, a completely different side to the character in this book is his descent into crushing debt as he continually and uncharacteristically makes rash purchases and lives in a loft apartment that he cannot really afford. Previously, the diaries showed him to be a cheapskate, especially "" where Pandora gave him a long list of goods and services he did not spend on, down to cutting his own hair. Although the Mole of 2002-3 is a stark and, some might say inconsistent contrast to Mole's lifestyle in earlier books, in psychological terms it could be argued that he is filling a void in his life with both sons abroad (Mole's ex-wife Jo Jo has sole custody of their son William in Nigeria, and Glenn is fighting in Iraq) and his dreams unfulfilled. His naiveté, such as treating an offer to extend credit as a gift, is in line with previous instalments; additionally Townsend may simply have wished to address consumer credit as an issue.

Characters

Bruce "Brainbox" Henderson

Bruce was Adrian's old schoolmate in the first book. He was very clever although he couldn't grasp more philosophical concepts and dealt mainly with numbers. He never seemed to have many friends and was always seen with a calculator in his hand. He later started IdioTech, a company that specializes in 'technology for idiots'. At the end of the book he marries Marigold.

Nigel Hetherington

Nigel is Adrian's best friend. During the course of the novel he becomes blind. Unfortunately he has to give up working as a media analyst due to his condition, since this job essentially involves reading newspapers. Due to this and his situation in general, he becomes depressed and short-tempered. He often snaps at Adrian and is rude and contemptuous to him, despite Adrian's attempts to involve him in his writer's workshop and cheer him up. He is given a guide dog for his condition, who he develops an emotional attachment to.

Robbie Stainforth

The best friend of Adrian's son Glenn and a private in the British Army, through which he is deployed to Iraq. He enjoys reading and becomes friends with Adrian's boss, Mr Carlton-Hayes by exchanging letters. Mr Carlton-Hayes is keen to further his interest and sends him several books to read. He is killed in a bomb explosion near the end of the book, which upsets Adrian greatly.

Marigold Flowers

For a while she is Adrian's girlfriend, and later his fiance, but in reality he loves her less each day. Adrian became engaged to her only because of the influence of her father, Michael. Marigold is described as needy, hysterical, mentally and emotionally unstable and a hypochondriac. She seems to always expect to get what she wants and proves to be manipulating Adrian. She even lies that she is pregnant with Adrian's child in a final attempt to make him marry her. At the end, however, she marries Bruce "Brainbox" Henderson.

Pandora Braithwaite

Adrian's childhood sweetheart. There are some indications scattered through the novel that Adrian is still in love with her, as he was throughout most of the earlier books. Pandora also sent text messages to him saying she loved him but did that only when she was "drunk". Since , Pandora has been the New Labour MP for Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and in this installment resigns her role as a prominent Parliamentary Private Secretary due to her disagreement with the government's invasion of Iraq in 2003, though she remains an MP.

Mr Carlton-Hayes (Hughie)

Adrian’s employer, always referred to as “Mr Carlton-Hayes”. He runs a small independent bookshop, which Adrian works in and helps to slightly modernise. He is in his sixties and from an upper class background. A running joke in the book is that Adrian does not know whether his partner Leslie is a man or a woman; this is never made clear. Although they are from different backgrounds, he and Adrian share an appreciation of literature, contempt for Michael Flowers and a similar reservation about their feelings.

References