The Bad Beginning

TheBadBeginningbeginsbadlyforthethreeBaudelairechildren,andthengetsworse.TheirmisfortunesbeginonegraydayonBrinyBeachwhenMr.Poetellsthemthattheirparentsperishedinafirethatdestroyedtheirwholehouse."ItisuselessformetodescribetoyouhowterribleViolet,Klaus,andevenSunnyfeltinthetimethatfollowed,"lamentsthepersonable(occasionallypedantic)narrator,whotellsthestoryasifhisreadersaregatheredaroundanarmchaironpillows.Butofcoursewhatfollowsisdreadful.Thechildrenthoughtitwasbadwhenthewell-meaningPoesboughtthemgrotesque-coloredclothingthatitched.Butwhentheyareusheredtothedilapidateddoorstepofthemiserable,thin,unshaven,shiny-eyed,money-grubbingCountOlaf,theyknowthatthey--andtheirfamilyfortune--areinrealtrouble.Still,theycouldneverhaveanticipatedhowmuchtrouble.FromAmazon.com