Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction which began at this time. This is a recurring theme throughout the book. 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. In her review of the book, Mary Wakefield felt Mole's immature and angst-ridden personality has lost its appeal as he approaches middle-age, where it was endearing in a younger man. Bruce was Adrian's old schoolmate in the first book. He was very clever although he couldn't grasp
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ of Prince William. Mole is also a fierce critic of prime minister Margaret Thatcher, listing her as one of his worst enemies. Apart from the humorous events described in the diary, a lot of the book's humour originates from the unreliable narration of Mole, who naïvely, yet confidently, misinterprets events around him. The book was first published in hardcover by Methuen on October 7, 1982. Sequels include (in chronological order): The book was a best-seller, and had sold 1.9 million copies by November 1985. A 7-part radio series on BBC Radio 4 featured extracts from the book read by Nicholas