Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction
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Published in 2004 by Penguin Books, Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction is the sixth and most recent Adrian Mole novel by Sue Townsend. It is set in 2002 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 Iraq's apparently non-existent 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.
The story also deals with an issue that has affected Sue Townsend directly: a long-term diabetic, she was registered blind in 2001. 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 have praised the novel for its fine combination of sitcom-style humour with an underlying element of tragedy and pathos. Some consider it less comical and darker than the previous installment, Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years. It has been suggested that the character of Adrian Mole is becoming stale as he approaches middle age. Critics claim that his immature and angst-ridden personality has lost its appeal as he approaches middle-age, where it was endearing in a younger man.
The character of Adrian Mole arguably matures as this novel progresses. He seems to become more realistic about his life and concentrates on his present problems, rather than half-realised aspirations of fame and literary success. Sue Townsend has confirmed that this is the last installment of the Adrian Mole series. The book thus concludes the Adrian Mole universe.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
[edit] Gary Milksop
Gary is a fellow writer who has been working for many years on a novel. He cries if he receives negative feedback on his writing. He is gay and in a relationship with a man whose name is never revealed, but is described as having 'ears that stick out like mug handles'. He also seems to be romantically interested in Nigel, and he attends group therapy.
[edit] Nigel
Nigel is Adrian's best friend. During the course of the novel he becomes blind, which is interesting because Sue Townsend was blind at the time of writing the book. 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 Adrians attempts to involve him in his writer's workshop and cheer him up. He is awarded a guide dog due to his condition.
[edit] Robbie
The best friend of Adrian's son Glenn and in the British army. He serves in Iraq and enjoys reading. He becomes friends with Adrian by exchanging letters. Adrian 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.
[edit] Marigold Flowers
For a while she is Adrian's girlfriend and later fiance, but he dumps her. Marigold is described as needy, hysterical, and a hypochondriac. She always expects to get what she wants and proves to be very manipulative with Adrian. She even lies that she is pregnant with his child.
[edit] Daisy Flowers
Marigold's attractive sister, said to resemble Nigella Lawson. Although attached to her sister when they meet, Adrian eventually forms a relationship with Daisy, and the short epilogue at the end of the book indicates that they have married and had a daughter, Gracie.
[edit] Pandora Braithwaite
Adrian's childhood sweetheart. There are some indications in the early part of the novel that Adrian is still in love with her, as he was throughout most of the books. Pandora, since The Cappucino Years 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.
