Skip to content
Cover of The Bad Beginning

Book 1 of A Series of Unfortunate Events · 1999

The Bad Beginning

by Lemony Snicket. 176 pages, about 3.2 hours to read. Rated 4.2 out of 5 by 94 Open Library readers.

BORROW FREE

Borrow it free

Open Library lends a digital copy free, one reader at a time, with a free account.

Buy a used copy

Used paperbacks of popular series usually go for a few dollars or pounds. Compare before you buy:

We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change the price.

How long to read The Bad Beginning

At 250 words a minute, the average adult pace, The Bad Beginning takes about 3.2 hours. That assumes 275 words a page over 176 pages.

Your paceTime
150 words/min (slow, or reading aloud)5.4 hours
200 words/min4 hours
250 words/min (average)3.2 hours
300 words/min2.7 hours
400 words/min (fast)2 hours

In the series

All 13 A Series of Unfortunate Events books in order

Fiction · Humorous stories · Brothers and sisters · Orphans · Children's fiction · Brothers and sisters, fiction