The Bad Beginning

The Bad Beginning is the first book in A Series of Unfortunate Events and the first one by Daniel Handler. It is narrated in the first person as Lemony Snicket. The book was first released in 1999. The book is about the Baudelaires becoming orphans on Briny Beach, and them meeting Count Olaf. The Baudelaire Children are on Briny Beach. They are doing an experiment to see how to make the rock dropped into the water go farther. But then, they see a figure emerging from the fog. This figure is Mr. Poe. Mr. Poe tells them that their mansion has burned down and that their parents have died. They are taken into the care of a treacherous man named Count Olaf who is greedy for the fortune that the Baudelaires have left behind.

Beginning
For Beatrice,

darling, dearest, dead...

Note at the Back
Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket