The Vile Village

The Vile Village is a 2001 book that marks the splitting point between the two sides of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler. The book introduces Jacques Snicket in the Village of Fowl Devotees. The Baudelaires are took into the care of a whole village, but they find out that all they do is do chores all day. Duncan and Isadora Quagmire send secret messages to them, revealing that they were hidden in the Fowl Fountain the whole time. After the book, the Baudelaires no longer go to any guardians, and they can't get help from Mr. Poe. They go on their own adventures. Count Olaf disguises himself as a cool detective, blaming the Baudelaires for the murder of Jacques Snicket, who is recognised as Count Olaf, who is recognised as Count Omar.

Beginning
For Beatrice,

When we were together I felt breathless.

Now, you are.

Note at the Back
Dear Reader,

You have undoubtedly picked up this book by mistake, so please put it down. Nobody in their right mind would read this particular book about the lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire on purpose, because each dismal moment of their stay in the village of V.F.D. has been faithfully and dreadfully recorded in these pages.

I can think of no single reason why anyone would want to open a book containing such unpleasant matters as migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the arrest of innocent people, the Deluxe Cell, and some very strange hats.

It is my solemn and sacred occupation to research each detail of the Baudelaire children's lives and write them all down, but you may prefer to do some other solemn and sacred thing, such as reading another book instead.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket