"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾" by Sue Townsend


The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is the first book in the Adrian Mole series of comedic fiction, written by Sue Townsend. The book is written in a diary style, and focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenager who believes himself to be an intellectual. The story is set in 1981 and 1982, and in the background it refers to some of the historic world events of the time, such as the Falklands War and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana as well as the birth 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 Growing Pains of Adrian Mole

  • The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole

  • Adrian Mole and the Small Amphibians (all of which were contained in Adrian Mole: From Minor to Major)

  • Adrian Mole: The Wilderness Years

  • Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years

  • Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction

  • Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years

The book was a best-seller, and had sold 1.9 million copies by November 1985.

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