Critical Reception
Publishers Weekly praised Snicket's prose, observing, "The author uses formal, Latinate language and intrusive commentary to hilarious effect, even for readers unfamiliar with the literary conventions he parodies." The review went on to laud Helquist for his "exquisitely detailed" and "elegantly designed" artwork. The trade publication Library Journal praised both Snicket's narrative and prose: "While the misfortunes hover on the edge of being ridiculous, Snicket's energetic blend of humor, dramatic irony, and literary flair makes it all perfectly believable." Kirkus Reviews noted the uncomfortably macabre tone of the novel, warning that because "the Baudelaire children are truly sympathetic characters", the novel is "not for the squeamish". In 2012, School Library Journal named it the 48th best children's novel.
Read more about this topic: The Bad Beginning
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—Walter Pater (1839–1894)