Search
      Tap cover to enlarge

      The Bad Beginning

      by Lemony Snicket
      Published
      Oct 1999
      Main Genre
      Horror Horror
      Rating
      Pages
      142
      Buy on Amazon Book
      Series
      A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 1

      About This Book

      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 first 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

      Series Placement

      Book 1
      🔴 Must Read in Order
      View full series order

      Genres & Themes

      Genres

      General Fiction Speculative Fiction

      Subgenres

      Horror

      Themes

      Comedy / Humor Movie/TV Adaptations

      Age Level

      Kids (12 & Under) Kids: Middle Grade

      Buy This Book

      Amazon Paperback / Kindle Barnes & Noble Paperback / Nook Apple Books eBook Kobo eBook Audible Audiobook

      Formats & Editions

      Browse the different covers, formats, and publication history for this title.

      Paperback

      Paperback edition cover
      Paperback
      Jan 2007 HarperTrophy ISBN 0061146307
      Buy
      Paperback edition cover
      Paperback
      Sep 2000 Scholastic ISBN 0439227585
      Buy
      Paperback edition cover
      Trade Paperback
      Sep 2012 Egmont Books (UK) ISBN 1405266066
      Buy
      Paperback edition cover
      Trade Paperback
      Feb 2016 Egmont Books Ltd ISBN 1405281782
      Buy
      Paperback edition cover
      Paperback
      Jan 2018 Egmont Books (UK) ISBN 1405290641
      Buy
      Paperback edition cover
      Paperback
      Apr 2024 HarperCollins (UK) ISBN 0008648492
      Buy

      Hardcover

      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      First Edition Jan 1999 HarperCollins ISBN 0064407667
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 1999 HarperCollins ISBN 0060283122
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Sep 2000 Scholastic ISBN 0439206472
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Dec 2000 Thorndike Press ISBN 0786229748
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2001 Egmont ISBN 0749746114
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jun 2002 Turtleback Books ISBN 1417619287
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2003 Egmont Books (UK) ISBN 1405208678
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2003 HarperCollins ISBN 0060518286
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2003 Egmont Books (UK) ISBN 1405207264
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2004 HarperCollins ISBN 006075589X
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2005 HarperCollins ISBN 0060782528
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2005 HarperCollins ISBN 0060837462
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      May 2007 Turtleback Books ISBN 1417788402
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2008 Oxford University Press (UK) ISBN 1439548137
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2012 Harper ISBN 0062206044
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Oct 2017 HarperCollins ISBN 006279602X
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2018 HarperCollins ISBN 0062847236
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jan 2021 HarperCollins (UK) ISBN 0755500326
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Oct 2025 HarperCollins ISBN 0063437538
      Buy
      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Oct 2025 HarperCollins ISBN 1532566603
      Buy

      eBook

      eBook edition cover
      eBook
      Jan 2009 Harper ISBN 0061757098
      Buy
      eBook edition cover
      eBook
      Mar 2009 HarperCollins ISBN B000VYX8PE
      Buy
      eBook edition cover
      eBook
      Jan 2012 HarperCollins ISBN 0062188097
      Buy
      eBook edition cover
      eBook
      Mar 2026 Farshore ISBN 0008833222
      Buy

      Audio

      Audio edition cover
      Audio Cassette
      Mar 2001 Listening Library ISBN 0807288470
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audio Cassette
      Apr 2001 Listening Library ISBN 0807261785
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audio CD
      Sep 2002 Listening Library ISBN 0807211583
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audio CD
      Sep 2003 Listening Library ISBN 0807219908
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audio CD
      Jan 2004 HarperAudio ISBN 0060765798
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audible
      Nov 2004 HarperAudio ISBN B0006JM23I
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audible
      Jun 2005 HarperCollins Publishers Limited ISBN B0009WF9GE
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audible
      Jul 2005 HarperCollins Publishers Limited ISBN B01CWRUOHC
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audible
      Aug 2005 HarperCollins Publishers Limited ISBN B01CWSA5GG
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audio CD (abridged)
      Jan 2007 HarperAudio ISBN 0061365335
      Buy
      Audio edition cover
      Audio CD
      Mar 2013 Recorded Books ISBN 1419357859
      Buy

      Large Print

      Large Print edition cover
      Hardcover
      Jun 2002 Chivers ISBN 0754078124
      Buy