The Discursive Use of Humour in the Description of British Premiership Perception: The Contribution of Sue Towns

Abstract

Humour, and particularly the (fine?) art of mocking politicians, holds a multifaceted discursive character and has proved to be very valuable for the formation of politicians’ public image, reflecting, at the same time, people’s perceptions of their leaders. Sue Townsend, one of the most popular and loved English writers, author of the worldwide famous series of Adrian Mole diaries, supplied her readers with an extended list of hilarious descriptions and witty comments on two paramount figures of British politics in the 20th century: Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. Townsend’s mocking criticism contributed to the literary discursive construction of their premiership from the perspective of the average citizen which provides the reader with an invaluable tool to analyse the British life of their time.