The Wide Window

Not to be confused with the window that was wide. The Wide Window is a 2000 book written by Daniel Handler, narrating in first person as Lemony Snicket. It is the third in A Series of Unfortunate Events. It describes the Baudelaires staying in a house hanging off a cliff with their Aunt Josephine. They see a man that calls himself Captain Sham, although he's really Count Olaf in disguise. Sham reveals to Josephine that he's Olaf, forcing her to write a letter to the Baudelaires with a secret message "Curdled Cave". The orphans need to steal a boat and sail to Curdled Cave in the middle of Hurricane Herman. Josephine later ends up being thrown from a boat in the middle of Lake Lachrymose to the Lachrymose Leeches by Captain Sham.

Beginning
For Beatrice,

I would much prefer it if you were alive and well.

Note at the Back
Dear Reader,

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.

If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.

I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.

With all due respect, Lemony Snicket.