Penguin Student Design Award 2017 Brief - Research | The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Age 13¾ by Sue Townsend

Research

Book
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is known to be the first book in the Adrian Mole series of comedic fiction, written by Sue Townsend. This book is written in a diary style, and centres 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, for example: 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, emphasising by 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 first books focuses on Adrian's desires and ambitions in life (to marry his teenage sweetheart, publish his poetry and novels, obtain financial security) and his complete failure to achieve them. The series mocks human aspiration, and especially, in the first couple of volumes, teenage pretensions.

Adrian Mole background information

Adrian Albert Mole is the fictional protagonist in a series of books called 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ by English author Sue Townsend.

Adrian Albert Mole is born in 1967 and grows up with his parents in the city of Leicester. He later on moves to Ashby-de-la-Zouch in England's East Midlands. Adrian's family are largely unskilled working class/lower middle class. In the beginning he is an only child until the age of 15, when his half-brother Brett and half-sister Rosie are born. Adrian is not gifted academically but does tolerably well at school, though he does sometimes suffer the ire of headmaster "Pop-Eye" Scruton. Though not especially popular he has a small circle of friends and even a girlfriend Pandora Braithwaite (whose parents Ivan and Tania are affluent Trotskyites). At one point he falls into bad company with Barry Kent and his gang, who had bullied him in earlier years, but generally he keeps his nose clean. Throughout all this Adrian perceives himself to be an "intellectual" and a thwarted "Great Writer".

Ironically Adrian actually is a good writer, as the quality of his diaries show this evidence. But tragically he feels he must adopt a "high" or "avant garde" literary style to be taken seriously. His novel Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland is unsurprisingly never published: the few passages included in the diaries are painful to read (though Adrian himself regards them as "magnificent"), and the first few drafts were even written without vowels. Over several books he develops a script for a white van serial killer comedy programme. Another of his works The Restless Tadpole: an Opus is described by one potential agent as "effete crap".

Sue Townsend background information

Susan Lillian "Sue" Townsend, (2 April 1946 – 10 April 2014) was an English writer and humorist whose work encompasses novels, plays and works of journalism. She was best known for creating the character Adrian Mole.

After writing in secret from the age of 14, Townsend first became known for her plays, her signature character first appearing in a radio drama, But her work soon expanded into other forms. She enjoyed great success in the 1980s, with her Adrian Mole books selling more copies than any other work of fiction in Britain during the decade. This series, which eventually encompassed nine books, takes the form of the character's diaries. The earliest books recount the life of a teenage boy during the Thatcher years, but the sequence eventually depicts Adrian Mole in middle age. The Queen and I (1992), another popular work which was well received, was an outlet for her republican sentiments, although the Royal Family is still rendered with sympathy. Both the earliest Adrian Mole book and The Queen and I were adapted for the stage and enjoyed successful runs in London's West End.

Townsend was poor until well into her thirties, and used her experiences of hardship in her work. In her later years she suffered ill health, in part related to the diabetes she developed in the mid-1980s, and in her last years endured serious sight and mobility problems.

The Success of Adrian Mole

The first two published stories appeared in a short-lived arts' journal entitled magazine, in the editing and production which Townsend was involved, featuring the character then still called Nigel Mole. The Actor Nigel Bennett had given her help and encouragement to persist with the work and sent the script to John Tydeman, the deputy head of BBC Radio Drama. The character first came to national awareness in a single radio play, The Diary of Nigel Mole, Aged 13¼, broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on New Year's Day 1982.

Someone at the publishers Methuen heard the broadcast and commissioned Townsend to write the first book, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ which came out in September of that year. The publisher insisted on the change of name because of the similarity to Nigel Molesworth, the schoolboy character created by Ronald Searle and Geoffrey Willans. A month after the book's appearance it had topped the best seller list and had sold a million copies after a year. Adapted as a play, the stage version premiéred in Leicester and ran at Wyndham's Theatre for more than two years. The first two books were seen by many as a realistic and humorous treatment of the inner life of an adolescent boy. They also captured something of the zeitgeist of Britain during the Thatcher era.

These first two books were adapted into a television series, broadcast in 1985 and 1987.

Some information that I have collected:

• Type of Genre - Young Adult Novel / Humour
• Target audience of the book - Children age 13 to 14 
• Themes & influence - Set in 1981 and 1982 & Margaret Thatcher era 
• Tone of Voice - World-weary and somewhat precocious in his views and opinions of himself (Adrian Mole)
• Other visual formats that the book has been presented - BBC Radio 4 called 'The Diary of Nigel Mole, Aged 13¼

Images of Previous Designs and Winners of the other competition

 

Overall, when visually observing the previous designs of the book 'The Secret Diary Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, I can identify the use of bright and vivid colours being used, these colours are specifically chosen to attract the target audience which are children between 13 to 14 year old. The typography style is mostly in Sans serif typeface, as the children will be able to read it easily rather than it be in a fancy serif typeface. This particular typeface seems quite popular to use in this type of book genre. For the design aspects of the book cover design, the book uses very stereotypical primary to high school theme. This includes pencils, books, a boy in a school uniform, glasses and so on. Some of the covers have vectors of shapes e.g - stars, hearts and dotted lines. Therefore, I must look at similar sorts of styles of this kind of design concept. Or even some illustrators which have a similar type of school style. 

After analysing the previous winners children book cover designs, of the previous brief that Penguin had posted. Some of them look very detail and have their own personal characteristic, which depends on what the books concept is about. Most of the designs look very illustrative, this conveys that I will need to research on children's illustrations drawings or illustrators that specialise in this particular field. To alliterate, I will need to research on children book cover colour schemes. For example, Pantone (solid, coated or uncoated) or even tinted colours. Also I need to measure out the dimensions of the Penguin books so I can design the book cover that I will produce within an accurate size. 

Judges

Francesca Dow – Managing Director, Penguin Random House UK Children'sFrancesca Dow runs Penguin Random House UK Children’s, which comprises Ladybird and Puffin, and the Random House Children’s publishing division. Penguin Random House UK Children’s is home to popular children’s authors and illustrators such as Roald Dahl, Jeff Kinney, Jacqueline Wilson, Quentin Blake, John Green, Terry Pratchett, Malorie Blackman, Tom Fletcher, Sophy Henn, Ed Vere and Shirley Hughes as well as hugely successful children's brands – Peter Rabbit, Peppa Pig, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Snowman and Dr Who.‘Excellent design and illustration are absolutely crucial to the success of children's books,’ says Francesca Dow. ‘As the leading children’s publisher, we have always promoted great design and supported new illustrators and the Penguin Random House Student Design Award continues that tradition. We love working with talented new designers. New ideas, new skills are vital to our business.’

Anna Billson – Art Director, Penguin Random House UK Children’s

Anna graduated in Graphic Design from Middlesex Polytechnic, where she spent most of her time printmaking and producing hand-made books. After working in the newsroom at ITN for a couple of years she moved into publishing, where she was able to turn her love of design and her love of books into her dream career. 

Anna joined Puffin as Deputy Art Director in 2002 from Orchard Books. Anna became Art Director of Puffin in 2003 and in 2011 took on the role of Art Director for Penguin Children’s. Following the creation of the Penguin Random House UK Children’s division, she is now responsible for the art direction of everything published on the combined children’s lists.

Anna leads a fabulously talented group of designers who work with a dazzling array of illustrators, designing for some of the best authors and the biggest brands in children’s publishing. Her team currently includes a designer who was recruited following his success in the Children’s Cover Award.

Book Reviews of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4

• "This book was an absolute joy, definitely the funniest book I have read for years. I heard people talk about this "diary" when at school but only recently decided to read it. In all books I have read, there are few characters who would top the inimitable Adrian Mole. A fantastic read, so if you're feeling blue, need a pick me up or you just enjoy a good hoot - then look no further than this. I may be 15 years behind most in discovering this book, but it was worth the wait." 
• "And so the love affair with the Adrian Mole series begins!You share Adrian's concerns over his appearance, parents and his future and laugh at his naivety. You really do feel naughty reading it, as it is like reading someone's diary over their shoulder. Sue Townsend makes it such a realistic account."
• "This is the funniest book ever written. It is a must read. Makes me cry with laughter."