A Series of Unfortunate Events Books in Order

Lemony Snicket's darkly comic 13-book children's saga follows the three orphaned Baudelaire children as they are pursued from one calamity to the next by the villainous Count Olaf, who schemes to seize their inheritance. The narrator's wry warnings, recurring wordplay, and the unfolding mystery of the secret organization V.F.D. run through every volume.

Publication order

In the order the books were originally released.

  1. Cover of The Bad Beginning

    The Bad Beginning

    2014 · Lemony Snicket

    After a fire destroys their home and kills their parents, the three clever Baudelaire children are sent to live with a distant relative named Count…

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  2. Cover of The Reptile Room

    The Reptile Room

    1999 · Lemony Snicket

    The orphans are placed with kindly Uncle Monty, a reptile expert preparing for an expedition, and for a brief moment life seems bright among his…

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  3. Cover of The Wide Window

    The Wide Window

    2000 · Lemony Snicket

    The Baudelaires go to stay with their terrified, grammar-obsessed Aunt Josephine, who lives in a house perched precariously above a lake. When a…

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  4. Cover of The Miserable Mill

    The Miserable Mill

    2000 · Lemony Snicket

    Shipped off to Lucky Smells Lumbermill, the orphans are forced into grueling labor and paid only in coupons and gum. As strange events unfold and a…

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  5. Cover of The Austere Academy

    The Austere Academy

    2000 · Lemony Snicket

    The Baudelaires are enrolled at dreary Prudence Preparatory School, where a cruel vice principal and bullying classmates make life miserable. They…

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  6. Cover of The Ersatz Elevator

    The Ersatz Elevator

    2001 · Lemony Snicket

    Now wards of the fashion-obsessed Esmé Squalor and her husband in a towering city penthouse, the orphans must navigate absurd high-society whims.…

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  7. Cover of The Vile Village

    The Vile Village

    2001 · Lemony Snicket

    Following the saying that it takes a village to raise a child, the Baudelaires are sent to live in the strange town of V.F.D., governed by countless…

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  8. Cover of The Hostile Hospital

    The Hostile Hospital

    2001 · Lemony Snicket

    On the run and accused of murder, the orphans take refuge with a cheerful volunteer group at Heimlich Hospital. Hoping to uncover secrets in its…

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  9. Cover of The Carnivorous Carnival

    The Carnivorous Carnival

    2002 · Lemony Snicket

    Disguised among the performers at Caligari Carnival, the Baudelaires hope its fortune-teller can answer questions about their past and a possible…

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  10. Cover of The Slippery Slope

    The Slippery Slope

    2003 · Lemony Snicket

    Separated as the story opens, the children fight to reunite high in the Mortmain Mountains, where a secret organization's headquarters may hold…

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  11. Cover of The Grim Grotto

    The Grim Grotto

    2004 · Lemony Snicket

    The Baudelaires journey beneath the sea aboard a submarine captained by the optimistic Captain Widdershins, searching for a crucial sugar bowl tied…

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  12. Cover of The Penultimate Peril

    The Penultimate Peril

    2005 · Lemony Snicket

    The orphans go undercover as concierges at the elegant Hotel Denouement, a gathering place where allies and enemies of the secret society converge.…

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  13. Cover of The End

    The End

    2006 · Lemony Snicket

    Swept away by the sea, the Baudelaires wash ashore on a remote island governed by a charismatic facilitator and populated by castaways. As the last…

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Companion & related books

Short-story collections and companion titles in this series.

  • Cover of Lemony Snicket

    Lemony Snicket

    2002 · Lemony Snicket

    The Baudelaire orphans—Violet, Klaus, and Sunny—are sent to live with a distant relative named Count Olaf after their parents perish in a mysterious…

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Frequently asked questions

What order should I read the A Series of Unfortunate Events books in?

Publication order — Widely recommended by readers and booksellers; the books form one continuous narrative numbered 1-13 by the publisher (HarperCollins) Start with “The Bad Beginning.”

How many books are in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series?

We list 13 books by Lemony Snicket , published between 1999–2014.

Where can I buy the A Series of Unfortunate Events books?

Each title above links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.