At a glance
The Bad Beginning
Children's fiction
The Bad Beginning
Book 1 of the A Series of Unfortunate Events series
162 pages · First published 1999
Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire lose their parents in a fire and are placed with Count Olaf, a distant relative whose theatrical manners barely disguise his interest in their inheritance. The children quickly realize that Olaf’s neglect and cruelty are part of a larger plan to gain control of their fortune. Their talents—invention, reading, and even Sunny’s remarkable biting—become essential when the adults responsible for protecting them fail to understand the danger. Lemony Snicket opens A Series of Unfortunate Events with dark comedy, wordplay, and a deliberately bleak narrator who warns readers that intelligence does not guarantee adults will listen.
Paired for this story
Jump to the pours ↓Molasses Cinnamon Cocoa + Golden Gate Sparkling Wine
Choose your bookseller
Find the Book
Print retailers offer a search when an exact edition is unavailable. Kindle links open a specific edition. Audiobook links may open an edition or a search.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Book Bartender earns from qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org links also earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. Your price is not affected. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Violence, weapons, and peril
Alcohol-Free Pour
Molasses Cinnamon Cocoa
Velvety chocolate suits a lively, lighthearted reading mood.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Whisk the cocoa and sweetener into the hot liquid until smooth. Add remaining flavorings, heat until steaming, and pour into a mug. Add any listed topping.
- Garnish: As listed.
- Glassware: Mug.
Cocktail Pour · 21+
Golden Gate Sparkling Wine
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A slow-sipping glass of wine suits a lively, lighthearted reading mood.
What you'll need
- 5 oz Brut sparkling wine
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Pour brut sparkling wine into an appropriate wine glass and serve at the recommended temperature.
- Garnish: None.
- Glassware: Wine glass.
Shop glassware & tools
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Wine glass ↗Set up the bar cart
Shop the Barware
Find the glasses and tools for your next pour.