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  • The Bad Beginning

  • A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1
  • By: Lemony Snicket
  • Narrated by: Tim Curry, Full Cast
  • Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (199 ratings)
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The Bad Beginning cover art

The Bad Beginning

By: Lemony Snicket
Narrated by: Tim Curry, Full Cast
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

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Summary

Like a car alarm, bagpipe music, or a doorbell ringing in the middle of the night, hearing this all-new audio edition of The Bad Beginning will only upset you. This unique multi-voice recording brings the first book in Lemony Snicket's alarming A Series of Unfortunate Events to such terrible life that no one should really have to experience it. Unless you have an ear for such ghastly details as a tragic fire, a nefarious villain, itchy clothing, and cold porridge for breakfast, all narrated in chilly detail by the distinguished, and disturbed, Tim Curry with a team of talented readers, you would be better off listening to something else.
Don't miss the rest of A Series of Unfortunate Events or Audible's exclusive interview with Lemony Snicket!
©1999 Lemony Snicket (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Tension-producing orchestral music, scene-setting sound effects, and most of all, Tim Curry's chocolate-voiced narration captivate the listener in this multicast production of the Lemony Snicket that started it all.... It's all good fun for listening children and their parents." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about The Bad Beginning

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Audible.co.uk reviews

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Profile Image for Jon

 a series of unfortunate Events review book one wrote by A L Farr

I would say there was nothing like this book. In fact, it was probably one of the most intriguing books. I’ve read since as well as it being one story it links to many other stories as well as the other books in the collection example, Georgina Oswell miserable mill book 4

Thank you for reading all the best, A L Farr

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Profile Image for WL123

This is fantastic

It may be a kids book. But it's fun and the audio production is high.

Shame the books are so short

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Have been wanting this audiobook since I was a kid

Saved up and finally got this audiobook on Audible! It is as good as I remembered and expected, Tim Curry did a really great job on it. Unfortunately, book 3 to 5 is narrated by Lemony Snicket himself, not as good as Tim Curry, but its alright as the rest is still by Tim Curry.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for John

brilliant

What a great tale, I could not stop listening all the while hoping that something pleasant was going to happen to the three orphans!! A must hear!!

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4 people found this helpful

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Profile Image for Amazon Customer

Love it

Loved it. Interesting story and characters. The voice over was nice to listen to and very understandable.

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Profile Image for Mrs Jessica Mary Bradley

An amazing book

My main problem with this audio book is the terrible voice performance for Violet and Klaus,

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1 person found this helpful

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Profile Image for Amazon Customer

Great

I was listening to the audiobook and I was also reading the book at the same time, and I realised that parts of the lines in the story where missing making it harder to follow. However I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook.

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Profile Image for Chloe

what fun

This production is fabulous, with sound effects, music, and of course great narration. The writing is so witty, and I would laugh out loud at points despite the "bad" events that befall the children. Had a lot of fun listening to this, and it certainly isn't just for children.

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Too much noise

I used to love this story, the narration was perfect with just Tim Curry. However I had to stop listening to this version as the background noise was too much. Too difficult to listen to the story when they overlap a baby crying and laughing along with narration.

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Profile Image for Dr. R. Jardine

If you like funny books, don’t pick this one.

I think it needs a lot more funny bits and fewer sad bits. It makes you want to read the next one by having a cliffhanger at the end, even if you don’t really want to read the next one. Arthur, 8

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1 person found this helpful