45 pages • 1 hour read
Lemony SnicketThe Bad Beginning
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1999A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Published in 1999, The Bad Beginning, a darkly humorous adventure novel for middle-grade readers, chronicles the misadventures of three orphaned children whose distant cousin adopts them as part of a plan to steal their huge inheritance. The novel is written by Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket and is the first of 13 books in the bestselling A Series of Unfortunate Events. The story includes episodes of cruelty to children, including verbal abuse, threats, kidnapping, and violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket receives praise for its dark humor, engaging narrative style, and unique characters. Readers appreciate the author's clever writing and the book's ability to appeal to both children and adults. However, some find the story too gloomy and the plight of the protagonists distressing. Recommended for those who enjoy quirky, gothic fiction.
Who Should Read The Bad Beginning?
Readers who enjoy darkly humorous and gothic tales with clever wordplay will appreciate The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. Fans of Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and Coraline by Neil Gaiman, who relish adventurous stories with quirky, intelligent protagonists facing unusual challenges, will find this book engaging.