A Series of Unfortunate Events (commonplace book)

This topic might have a better name.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (book). Or perhaps this should be the main A Series of Unfortunate Events, as presumably in-narrative, Snicket's series was named after this.

Talk about it here.

A Series of Unfortunate Events/An Incomplete History
Book Information
Released	Possibly years before The End
Behind the Scenes
Appearances	The End
Adaptation Appearances	Netflix Adaptation: The End

A Series of Unfortunate Events, known in the TV series as An Incomplete History, is the name of the commonplace book written and maintained by the leaders of the island (Olaf Land). When the Baudelaires find the book Klaus observes, "I think it's the history of the island, written like a diary." The Baudelaires eventually add entries themselves during their stay with Beatrice Baudelaire II.

Entries

The following is a list of the entries in the commonplace book that are revealed to the reader:

• Yet another figure from the shadowy past has washed ashore--Kit Snicket (see page 667). Convinced others to abandon her, and the Baudelaires, who have already rocked the boat far too much, I fear. Also managed to have Count Olaf locked in a cage. Note to self: Why won't anyone call me Ish?

This entry was written by Ishmael, a past member of V.F.D. who sought to escape the treachery of the world by remaining on the island.

• Inky has learned to lasso sheep, and last night's storm washed up a postcard from Kit Snicket, addressed to Olivia Caliban. Kit, of course, is the sister of...

This entry on page 667 is revealed to be written by Beatrice Baudelaire.

• Ishmael's fear mongering has stopped work on the passageway, even though we have a plethora of horseradish in case of any emergency. We're attempting a botanical hybrid through the tuberous canopy, which should bring safely to fruition despite its dangers to our associates in utero. Of course, in case we are banished, Beatrice is hiding a small amount in a vess--

Bracketed phrases are assumed.

This message revealed to the Baudelaire siblings that their parents had created a hybrid plant, using the apple tree in the arboretum and horseradishes. They discovered that apples from the tree dilute the Medusoid Mycelium poison, but also that they are lethal to those who are pregnant, harming any children still in the womb. So, despite apples from the tree being present at the time, Kit Snicket died during labor, not being able to dilute the poison because she wanted her baby to live.

The last sentence tells us that Beatrice has hidden some horseradish in the vess(el for disaccharides), also known as The Sugar Bowl.

• As expected, we are to be castaways once more. The others believe that the island should stay far away from the treachery of the world, and so this safe place is too dangerous for us. We will leave by a boat B has built and named after me. I am heartbroken, but I have been heartbroken before, and this might be the best for which I can hope. We cannot truly shelter our children, here or anywhere else, and so it might be best for us and the baby to immerse ourselves in the world. By the way, if it is a girl we will name her Violet, and if it is a boy we will name him Lemony.

This is said by Snicket to be the last entry left in the commonplace book by the Baudelaire Parents, and is featured in the fourteenth chapter of The End. It is assumed that it is a Baudelaire tradition, just like it is a Snicket tradition, to name children after those who are dead. It has been argued, then, that Beatrice believed that Lemony was dead. If this theory is true, then it can also be debated whether or not a telegram revealed in The Beatrice Letters actually reached Beatrice, since it was addressed to her while she was pregnant with Violet Baudelaire. The "B" initial in this letter refers to Bertrand Baudelaire, Beatrice's husband and the Baudelaire orphans' father.

At some point, it is likely the commonplace book was found by Lemony Snicket, given that he named his series after it, and how he knows so much insight into the lives of the Baudelaires and those on the island.

Trivia

• The book was renamed in the TV series because Barry Sonnenfeld didn't want viewers to be confused that it was a tale of the Baudelaire orphans written by Lemony Snicket.[1]

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