Where It All Goes Down
A Dirty and Busy City
The Bad Beginning takes place entirely in an unnamed city that Lemony Snicket describes as "a dirty and busy" (1.2) place. Sounds cheery. The Baudelaire mansion is in the heart of the city (where it burns down), but this metropolis must be at least a little bit safe because the children are allowed to explore without parental supervision—so long as they're home for dinner.
Count Olaf also lives in the city, which is the main reason Mr. Poe chooses him as a guardian for the children:
"Your parents' will," Mr. Poe said, "instructs that you be raised in the most convenient way possible. Here in the city, you'll be used to your surroundings, and this Count Olaf is the only relative who lives within the urban limits." (2.10)
Well, he certainly sounds qualified, doesn't he? Location, location, location.
So, what does Count Olaf's house look like? It's as hideous as his heart:
The bricks were stained with soot and grime. There were only two small windows, which were closed with the shades drawn even though it was a nice day. Rising above the windows was a tall and dirty tower that tilted slightly to the left. The front door needed to be repainted, and carved in the middle of it was an image of an eye. The entire building sagged to the side, like a crooked tooth. (2.33)
Talk about a setting that really fits. Count Olaf is terrible, so it follows that his house is an awful place. Compare this to the setting that's next door: Justice Strauss's house is lovely and well-maintained, with a garden and a library. But Count Olaf doesn't even have one book in his house (3.16). He also has a secret tower for imprisoning children, so he's clearly awful.
If it seems a bit vague to say that all the action goes down in "a city," that's intentional. Daniel Handler said he purposely made the setting of the series "ambiguous." He didn't want people to know what town or country things were set in. Heck, he even makes it tough to know what year it is, since Mr. Poe drives a car, but the Baudelaires also see horse-drawn carriages (2.23) as they roll down the street. When was the last time you saw those two things on the same road? Outside of Central Park or Amish country, of course.