View source for Daniel Handler

{{short description|American writer (born 1970)}}
{{For|the Uruguayan actor|Daniel Hendler}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}

{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name             = Daniel Handler
| image            = Handlertheend.PNG
| imagesize        = 
| caption          = Handler at a party celebrating the publication of ''[[The End (novel)|The End]]'', on October 12, 2006
| pseudonym        = [[Lemony Snicket]]
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1970|2|28}}
| birth_place      = [[San Francisco, California]], U.S.
| occupation       = {{flatlist|
* Author
* musician
* screenwriter
* television writer
* television producer
}}
| children         = 1
| period           = 1998–present
| genre            = Children's literature
| subject          = 
| movement         = 
| notableworks     = ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'', ''[[All the Wrong Questions]]'', ''[[The Basic Eight]]'', ''[[Watch Your Mouth (novel)|Watch Your Mouth]]'', ''[[Adverbs (novel)|Adverbs]]''
| spouse           = [[Lisa Brown (artist)|Lisa Brown]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jeffries|first1=Stuart|title=Daniel Handler: 'How old does a child need to be to appreciate Lemony Snicket?'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/07/how-old-child-need-be-appreciate-lemony-snicket-daniel-handler-interview|access-date=11 May 2015|work=The Guardian|date=7 February 2015}}</ref>
| signature        = Daniel handler signature.svg
}}
'''Daniel Handler''' (born February 28, 1970) is an American author, musician, screenwriter, television writer, and television producer. He is best known for his [[children's book series]] ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' and ''[[All the Wrong Questions]]'', published under the pen name [[Lemony Snicket]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/07/how-old-child-need-be-appreciate-lemony-snicket-daniel-handler-interview|title=Daniel Handler: 'How old does a child need to be to appreciate Lemony Snicket?'|last=Jeffries|first=Stuart|date=2015-02-07|website=[[The Guardian]]|language=en|access-date=2018-02-01}}</ref> The former was adapted into [[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events|a film]] in 2004, as well as [[A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)|a Netflix series]] from 2017 to 2019.

Handler has published adult novels and a stage play under his real name, along with other children's books under the Snicket pseudonym. His first book, a satirical fiction piece titled ''[[The Basic Eight]]'', was rejected by many publishers for its dark subject matter.

Handler has also played the [[accordion]] in several bands, and appeared on the album ''[[69 Love Songs]]'' by indie pop band [[The Magnetic Fields]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Tasha |title=Daniel Handler |url=https://www.avclub.com/daniel-handler-1798208806 |website=The A.V. Club |date=November 16, 2005 |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref>

==Life==
Handler was born in [[San Francisco, California]], the son of Sandra Handler (née Walpole), a retired [[City College of San Francisco]] dean, and Louis Handler, an accountant.<ref name=beweeweht>{{Cite news|title=Lemony Snicket |publisher=The Wee Web |year=2011 |url=http://www.theweeweb.co.uk/public/author_profile.php?id=497 |access-date=January 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927210151/http://www.theweeweb.co.uk/public/author_profile.php?id=497 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> His father was a [[Jewish]] refugee from [[Germany]] in 1939. His mother is distantly related to British writer [[Hugh Walpole]].<ref name=emrkoweeht>{{Cite news|last=Salamon|first=Julie|work=The New York Times|date=September 23, 2004|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/23/movies/23hand.html|access-date=January 24, 2011|title=Lemony Snicket's Down and Dirty Indie}}</ref><ref name=higi>{{Cite news|last=Westbrook|first=Caroline|title=Daniel Handler interview|publisher=SomethingJewish|date=June 5, 2006|url=http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/1914_daniel_handler_inter.htm|access-date=January 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411021444/http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/1914_daniel_handler_inter.htm|archive-date=April 11, 2012}}</ref> Of his early religious upbringing, Handler said, "I had a fairly standard [[Reform Judaism|Reform Jewish]] upbringing, I guess, in terms of the religious side of it."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Weiss|first=Josh|date=2017-02-15|title=S.F. author Lemony Snicket's 'Jewish story' on Netflix|url=https://www.jweekly.com/2017/02/15/s-f-author-lemony-snickets-jewish-story-on-netflix/|access-date=2020-12-18|website=J.|language=en-US}}</ref> He has a younger sister, Rebecca Handler. He attended Commodore Sloat Elementary, [[Herbert Hoover Middle School (San Francisco)|Herbert Hoover Middle School]], and [[Lowell High School (San Francisco)|Lowell High School]]. He graduated from [[Wesleyan University]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sparks|first1=Karen|title=Daniel Handler|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/760909/Daniel-Handler|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=11 May 2015}}</ref> He was awarded the 1992 Connecticut Student Poet Prize, which he has said he won by ripping off [[Elizabeth Bishop]].<ref>"[http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/articles/detail/69629 Happy, Snappy, Sappy]" by Daniel Handler</ref> He is an alumnus of the [[San Francisco Boys Chorus]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMahon |first=Regan |date=November 3, 2012 |orig-date=November 3, 2012 |title=Author 'Snicket's' fortunate career |url=https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Author-Snicket-s-fortunate-career-4006528.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104093638/https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Author-Snicket-s-fortunate-career-4006528.php |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=The San Francisco Gate |language=English}}</ref>

Handler has been a voracious reader since childhood. The first book he bought as a child was ''The Blue Aspic'' by [[Edward Gorey]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Daniel Handler: By the Book|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/25/books/review/daniel-handler-by-the-book.html|website=New York Times|date=January 22, 2015|access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref> of whom he is a fan.<ref>{{cite book|title=Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature|author1=Betsy Bird|author2=Julie Danielson|author3=Peter Sieruta|publisher=Candlewick Press|date=Aug 5, 2014|page=42|language=en}}</ref> He enjoyed the writings of [[William Keepers Maxwell, Jr.|William Maxwell]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Daniel Handler: By the Book|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/25/books/review/daniel-handler-by-the-book.html|access-date=11 May 2015|work=New York Times|date=22 January 2015}}</ref> and [[Roald Dahl]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Man Behind Lemony Snicket Talks About Writing For Kids And His Childhood Fears |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/01/13/509587895/the-man-behind-lemony-snicket-talks-about-writing-for-kids-and-his-childhood-fea |access-date=2022-08-15}}</ref>

He is married to [[Lisa Brown (artist)|Lisa Brown]], an illustrator he met in college.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-20-la-ca-conversation-20100620-story.html|title=The Sunday Conversation: With Daniel Handler|date=2010-06-20|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/01/13/509587895/the-man-behind-lemony-snicket-talks-about-writing-for-kids-and-his-childhood-fea|title=The Man Behind Lemony Snicket Talks About Writing For Kids And His Childhood Fears|website=NPR.org|date=January 13, 2017 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> They have a child, born in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2012/10/22/daniel-handler-new-snicket-book/1639595/|title=Daniel Handler's new Snicket series dives into noir|last=della Cava|first=Marco R.|website=USA Today|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> They live in an [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian]] house in San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lemony-snickets-melodramatic-attic-hideaway-1501599297|title=Lemony Snicket's Melodramatic Attic Hideaway|date=2017-08-01|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-03-18|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref>

Handler has expressed ambivalence about his wealth and the expectations it creates. He often donates money to charitable causes.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Handler|first=Daniel|work=The New York Times Magazine|title=Adjusted Income|date=June 10, 2007|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/magazine/10lives-t.html|access-date=August 15, 2014}}</ref> Handler and his wife have also donated $1,000,000 to Planned Parenthood,<ref>{{cite news |last=White |first=Daniel |date= 20 November 2014 |title=Lemony Snicket Pledges $1M to Planned Parenthood |url=https://time.com/4054889/planned-parenthood-lemony-snicket/ |newspaper=[[TIME]] |location=[[United States]] |access-date=27 April 2018 }}</ref> and he has supported the [[Occupy Wall Street]] movement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/lemony-snicket-mtv-help-explain-occupy-wall-street-to-kids/2011/10/18/gIQApTLTuL_blog.html|title=Lemony Snicket, MTV help explain Occupy Wall Street to kids|last=Flock|first=Elizabeth|date=2011-10-18|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2011/1019/Lemony-Snicket-releases-Thirteen-Observations-on-Occupy-Wall-Street|title=Lemony Snicket releases "Thirteen Observations on Occupy Wall Street"|date=2011-10-19|work=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=2020-03-18|issn=0882-7729}}</ref>

Handler describes himself as a [[Secular humanism|secular humanist]] and an atheist.<ref>{{cite news|first=Todd|last=Leopold| url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/books/10/05/handler.snicket/index.html | work=[[CNN]] | title=Lemony Snicket reaches 'The End' |date=October 5, 2006 | access-date=April 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Olasky |first1=Marvin |author-link=Marvin Olasky |title=Autumn of a book-lover's contentment |url=https://wng.org/articles/autumn-of-a-book-lovers-contentment-1617337051 |website=[[World (magazine)|World]] |access-date=6 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506214855/https://wng.org/articles/autumn-of-a-book-lovers-contentment-1617337051 |archive-date=6 May 2025 |date=7 October 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> He describes himself as having developed a "feminist consciousness" while in college.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Howell|first=Simmone|date=2017-11-30|title=Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, on writing teen sex and his inner girl voice|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/daniel-handler-aka-lemony-snicket-on-writing-teen-sex-and-his-inner-girl-voice-20171130-gzwczz.html|access-date=2020-12-18|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref>

==Professional work==
===Books===
Six of Handler's major works have been published under his name.<ref name="sfchron_dirty">{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Hayden|title='All the Dirty Parts,' by Daniel Handler|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/books/article/All-the-Dirty-Parts-by-Daniel-Handler-12162710.php|access-date=5 September 2017|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=1 September 2017}}</ref> His first, ''[[The Basic Eight]]'', was rejected by many publishers for its subject matter and tone (a dark view of a teenage girl's life). Handler has said the novel was rejected 37 times before being published in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/daniel-handler-1798208806|title=Daniel Handler|website=The A.V. Club|date=November 16, 2005 |language=en-us|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/daniel-handler/the-basic-eight/|title=The Basic Eight|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|language=en}}</ref>

''[[Watch Your Mouth (novel)|Watch Your Mouth]],'' his second novel, was completed before publication of ''The Basic Eight''. It follows a more operatic theme, complete with stage directions and various acts. ''Watch Your Mouth''{{'}}s second half replaces the opera troupe with the form of a 12-step recovery program, linguistically undergone by the protagonist.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} In April 2005, Handler published ''[[Adverbs (novel)|Adverbs]]'', a collection of short stories that he says are "about love." It was followed in 2011 by ''[[Why We Broke Up]]'', which received a 2012 Michael L. Printz honor award.<ref>[http://www.ala.org/yalsa/booklistsawards/bookawards/printzaward/previouswinners/winners Ala.org]</ref> Handler's 2015 novel ''[[We Are Pirates]]''<ref>[http://columbiajournal.org/issues/issue-51/journal-51-table-of-contents/daniel-handler Columbiajournal.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072505/http://columbiajournal.org/issues/issue-51/journal-51-table-of-contents/daniel-handler |date=April 7, 2014 }}</ref> is about a modern-age pirate who "wants to be an old-fashioned kind of pirate."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2006-10-10-lemony-snicket-main_x.htm | work=USA Today | first=Bob | last=Minzesheimer | title=An 'Unfortunate' end | date=October 11, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=We Are Pirates: A Novel |isbn = 978-1608196883|last1 = Handler|first1 = Daniel|date = February 3, 2015| publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA }}</ref> His most recent novel, ''All the Dirty Parts'', was published in 2017<ref>{{cite web|title=All the Dirty Parts|url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/all-the-dirty-parts-9781632868060/|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|access-date=5 September 2017}}</ref> and "takes the blunt and constant presence of a male teen's sexuality and considers it with utmost seriousness".<ref name="sfchron_dirty" />

Handler served as a judge for the [[PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pen.org/literature/2012-penphyllis-naylor-working-writer-fellowship |title=2012 PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship |access-date= February 6, 2013 |work=[[PEN American Center]]|date=November 15, 2012 }}</ref> In 2016, he founded Per Diem Press, a poetry competition for young writers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/garchik/article/Daniel-Handler-spends-a-windfall-on-poetry-10814414.php|title=Daniel Handler spends a windfall on poetry|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref> He awarded $1,000 to three winners and published a chapbook of their work.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2017/07/pending-daniel-handler-crowns-three-poets-per-diem-winners|title=Daniel Handler Crowns Three Poets Per Diem Winners by Harriet Staff|date=2018-06-05|website=Poetry Foundation|language=en-us|others=Poetry Foundation|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref>

====Lemony Snicket====
{{Main|Lemony Snicket}}
[[File:Daniel Handler at Book People.PNG|thumb|right|Handler at a book signing in 2006]]
Handler wrote the bestselling series of 13 novels ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' under the Snicket pseudonym from 1999 to 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-adapting-lemony-snickets-a-746666|title=Netflix Adapting Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' Into TV Show|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 5, 2014|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> The series is about three orphaned children who experience increasingly terrible events after their parents die and their home burns. Snicket acts as the orphans' narrator and biographer.<ref>"Tortuous Tales". A Series of Unfortunate Events. n.p. Retrieved 2012-04-16.</ref> Handler narrated the [[audiobook]]s for three books in the series before handing back the narrating job to the original narrator, [[Tim Curry]].{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

From 2012 to 2015, Handler published the four-part series ''[[All the Wrong Questions]]'' under the name Lemony Snicket; the books explore Snicket's childhood and V.F.D. apprenticeship in the failing town Stain'd-by-the-Sea.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Healy|first=Christopher|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/books/review/all-the-wrong-questions-a-lemony-snicket-series.html|title=Unsolved Mysteries|date=2012-10-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/11/3/20509168/mysteries-abound-in-lemony-snicket-s-new-all-the-wrong-questions-series|title=Mysteries abound in Lemony Snicket's new All the Wrong Questions series|last=Rappleye|first=Christine|date=2012-11-03|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2015/0116/Lemony-Snicket-s-All-the-Wrong-Questions-series-will-be-personalized-for-young-readers|title=Lemony Snicket's 'All the Wrong Questions' series will be personalized for young readers|date=2015-01-16|work=Christian Science Monitor|access-date=2020-03-18|issn=0882-7729}}</ref> He has also written other children's novels under the Snicket name, including companion books to his two Snicket series,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/10/postmodernism-for-kids/381739/|title=The Postmodern Brilliance of "A Series of Unfortunate Events"|last=Cruz|first=Lenika|date=2014-10-23|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> and children's books such as ''[[The Composer is Dead]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101669557|title=Lemony Snicket's Musical Murder Mystery|website=NPR.org|date=March 10, 2009 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> and ''[[The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Blum|first=Matt|url=https://www.wired.com/2011/12/latke-who-couldnt-stop-screaming/|title=Lemony Snicket's The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming (GeekDad Wayback Machine)|date=2011-12-10|magazine=Wired|access-date=2020-03-18|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2020}}[[File:Daniel Handler singing 2006-10-28.jpg|left|thumb|Handler playing and singing at a reading of ''[[The End (novel)|The End]]'' in 2006]]

Handler was in two bands after college, the Edith Head Trio and Tzamboni, but his music received little attention until ''[[69 Love Songs]]'', a three-album set by [[The Magnetic Fields]] on which he played accordion.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Robinson|first=Tasha|url=https://www.avclub.com/daniel-handler-1798208806|title=Daniel Handler|date=November 16, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57151/merritt-returns-to-bubble-gum-goth-on-new-album|title=Merritt Returns To 'Bubble-Gum Goth' On New Album|date=2006-09-25|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Jurgensen|first=John|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120250925409554929|title=Magnetic Fields: On the Road|date=2008-02-09|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-03-18|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> In the box set of the project, Handler interviews band leader [[Stephin Merritt]] about the project. He also appears in Kerthy Fix's and [[Gail O'Hara]]'s 2009 documentary ''Strange Powers,'' about Merritt and the Magnetic Fields.

Handler has played accordion in several other Merritt projects, including [[The 6ths]] and [[The Gothic Archies]], the last of which provided songs for the ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' audiobooks. In 2006, a Gothic Archies album was released with all 13 songs from the 13 ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' audiobooks, along with two bonus songs.

In the audio commentary on the film adaptation ''[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'', Handler plays a song about how depressing it is to have leeches in a film.

Handler wrote the lyrics to the song "Radio", performed by [[One Ring Zero]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2004/09/26/one_ring_zero_weaves_writers_words_into_song?pg=full|title=One Ring Zero weaves writers' words into song|website=The Boston Globe|language=en|access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref> and "The Gibbons Girl", by [[Figures on a Beach|Chris Ewen]]'s The Hidden Variable.

=== Theater ===
In 2017, Handler wrote the play ''Imaginary Comforts'', ''and The Story of The Ghost of The Dead Rabbit'', which was performed at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.onstageblog.com/reviews/2017/12/3/review-imaginary-comforts-or-the-story-of-the-ghost-of-the-dead-rabbit-at-berkeley-repertory-theatre|title=Review: "Imaginary Comforts, or The Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit" at Berkeley Repertory Theatre|work=OnStage Blog|access-date=2018-05-25|language=en-US}}</ref> The satirical play follows the intertwining lives of three characters and is inspired by the grief Handler felt after his father's death.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailycal.org/2017/10/12/daniel-handler-imaginary-comforts-berkeley-rep/|title=Down the rabbit hole with 'Imaginary Comforts' writer Daniel Handler|date=2017-10-12|work=The Daily Californian|access-date=2018-05-25|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Film and television ===
Handler has also had some success in film. He produced the screenplay for [[Rick (film)|''Rick'']], based on the [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]] opera ''[[Rigoletto (opera)|Rigoletto]]'',<ref>{{Cite news|last=Salamon|first=Julie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/23/movies/lemony-snickets-down-and-dirty-indie.html|title=Lemony Snicket's Down and Dirty Indie|date=2004-09-23|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> as well as [[Kill the Poor (film)|''Kill the Poor'']], based on the novel by [[Joel Rose]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lee|first=Nathan|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/06/movies/ragtag-tenants-in-a-shabby-part-of-town.html|title=Ragtag Tenants in a Shabby Part of Town|date=2006-01-06|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-03-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Handler was involved in the screenwriting process for the film ''[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' but was ultimately removed from the project. After writing eight drafts of the script for Sonnenfeld,<ref name="Mason">{{cite news|author=Spence D.|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/574/574000p1.html|title=Interview: Lemony Snicket|date=December 16, 2004|work=[[IGN]]|access-date=April 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208005631/http://movies.ign.com/articles/574/574000p1.html|archive-date=December 8, 2006}}</ref> he was replaced by [[Robert Gordon (screenwriter)|Robert Gordon]] in May 2003.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/scribe-brings-new-map-to-snicket-thicket-1117885786/|title=Scribe brings new map to ''Snicket'' thicket|date=May 7, 2003|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=April 5, 2009}}</ref> Handler approved of the changes that were made to his original screenplay.<ref name="old">{{cite news|last=Archerd|first=Army|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/columns/crystal-king-on-b-way-1117914932/|title=Crystal king on B'way|date=December 13, 2004|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=April 5, 2009|author-link=Army Archerd}}</ref> "I was offered credit on the film for screenwriting by the [[Writers Guild of America]]," Handler said, "but I didn't take it because I didn't write it. I felt like it would be an insult to the guy who did."<ref name="Mason" />

Handler submitted a commentary track for the DVD version alongside director [[Brad Silberling]]. In character as Lemony Snicket, he derides the Lemony Snicket in the film as an impostor and plays the accordion and sings about leeches rather than pay attention to the film. Many times during the track, he shows great sympathy towards the Baudelaire children and implies that he is being held captive by the director to do the commentary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The DVD Journal: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events |url=http://www.dvdjournal.com/reviews/l/lemonysnicket.shtml |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.dvdjournal.com}}</ref>

Handler was a writer on the Netflix series ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)|A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'', also contributing lyrics to the show's theme song, which varies each episode.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/10/25/daniel-handler-lemony-snicket-explains-why-less-involved-with-unfortunate-events-netflix/0ecmEEppx6fUoK7t9CZUFN/story.html|title=Daniel Handler (a.k.a Lemony Snicket) explains why he's less involved with 'Unfortunate Events' on Netflix - The Boston Globe|work=BostonGlobe.com|access-date=2018-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://decider.com/2018/04/09/a-series-of-unfortunate-events-opening-credits/|title=Here's What Went Into Making 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' Superb Theme Song|date=2018-04-09|work=Decider|access-date=2018-05-18|language=en-US}}</ref> The show has won several accolades, including a [[Peabody Award]] in 2017 for excellence in children's and youth programming.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://peabodyawards.com/stories/story/highlighting-the-best-storytelling-of-2017|title=Highlighting the Best Storytelling of 2017|access-date=2018-05-18|language=en|archive-date=July 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723003953/http://peabodyawards.com/stories/story/highlighting-the-best-storytelling-of-2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===Remark about race===
At the November 2014 [[National Book Award]]s ceremony, Handler made a controversial remark after author [[Jacqueline Woodson]] was presented with an award for ''[[Brown Girl Dreaming]]''. During the ceremony, he said that Woodson was allergic to watermelon, a reference to the racist [[watermelon stereotype]]. His comments were immediately criticized;<ref>{{cite news |last=Gambino |first=Lauren |date= 20 November 2014 |title=Lemony Snicket apologizes for watermelon joke about black writer at National Book Awards |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/20/lemony-snicket-apologizes-for-watermelon-joke-about-black-writer-at-national-book-awards |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[London]] |access-date=21 November 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.forward.com/the-shmooze/209629/lemony-snickets-series-of-unfortunate-racist-jokes/|title=Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Racist Jokes|work=The Jewish Daily Forward|last=Cohen|first=Anne|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=30 November 2014|archive-date=November 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122222401/http://blogs.forward.com/the-shmooze/209629/lemony-snickets-series-of-unfortunate-racist-jokes/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Handler apologized and donated $10,000 to [[We Need Diverse Books]], and promised to match donations up to $100,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/11/21/daniel-handler-does-more-than-apologize-for-his-watermelon-joke/?tid=pm_lifestyle_pop|title=Daniel Handler does more than apologize for his 'watermelon' joke|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Ohlheiser|first=Abby|date=21 November 2014|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref> In a ''New York Times'' [[op-ed]] published shortly thereafter, "The Pain of the Watermelon Joke", Woodson wrote that "in making light of that deep and troubled history" with his joke, Handler had come from a place of ignorance, but underscored the need for her mission to "give people a sense of this country's brilliant and brutal history, so no one ever thinks they can walk onto a stage one evening and laugh at another's too often painful past".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/29/opinion/the-pain-of-the-watermelon-joke.html|title=The Pain of the Watermelon Joke|last=Woodson|first=Jacqueline|author-link=Jacqueline Woodson|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=28 November 2014|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3610303/jacqueline-woodson-watermelon-racist-joke-lemony-snicket-daniel-handler-national-book-awards/|title=Jacqueline Woodson Responds to Racist Watermelon Joke|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|last=Frizell|first=Sam|date=29 November 2014|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/29/jacqueline-woodson-racist-joke_n_6240342.html|title=Award-Winning Author Jacqueline Woodson Responds To Racist Joke|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=29 November 2014|access-date=30 November 2014}}</ref>

===Allegations of inappropriate sexual comments===
In February 2018, Handler signed an online pledge to boycott conferences that do not have and enforce harassment policies. Underneath his comment, author Kate Messner recounted an incident in which Handler had made inappropriate jokes directed at her, such as "Are you a virgin, too?!" and "These children's book events always turn into orgies!"<ref name="vulture metoo">{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/lemony-snicket-accused-of-making-lewd-comments-about-women.html|title=Lemony Snicket Accused of Making Lewd Comments About Female Authors|work=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|last=Lockett|first=Dee|date=22 February 2018|access-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> This led to many other women accusing Handler of verbal sexual harassment at book conferences; among the public accusations are stories of Handler telling a woman he had just met to kiss a random stranger, making crass comments to a teenage girl and walking off without apology when confronted, referring to a stranger as a "hot blonde" and making a "uni-ball" double entendre in front of young children. The incident occurred during the larger [[Me Too movement]].<ref name="vulture metoo"/><ref name="psmag metoo">{{cite news|url=https://psmag.com/social-justice/how-will-publishing-deal-with-lemony-snicket-amid-metoo|title=HOW WILL PUBLISHING DEAL WITH LEMONY SNICKET AMID #METOO?|work=[[Pacific Standard]]|last=Perry|first=David M.|date=21 February 2018|access-date=13 March 2018}}</ref>

Handler apologized for his behavior, saying, "It has never been my wish to insult any of my professional colleagues",<ref name="vulture metoo"/> "my sense of humor has not been for everyone",<ref name="psmag metoo"/> "as a survivor of sexual violence, I also know very well how words or behaviors that are harmless or even liberating to some people can be upsetting to others",<ref name="wp metoo"/> and "I am listening and willing to listen; I am learning and willing to learn."<ref name="vulture metoo"/> After this, [[Wesleyan University]] students began to protest Handler's upcoming planned [[commencement speech]] at the university.<ref name="wp metoo">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/author-cancels-graduation-speech-amid-harassment-allegations/2018/03/01/463698c2-1d9e-11e8-98f5-ceecfa8741b6_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302084322/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/author-cancels-graduation-speech-amid-harassment-allegations/2018/03/01/463698c2-1d9e-11e8-98f5-ceecfa8741b6_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2018|title=Author cancels graduation speech amid harassment allegations|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last1=Binkley|first1=Collin|last2=Italie|first2=Hillel|date=1 March 2018|access-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, Wesleyan president [[Michael S. Roth]] announced that Handler had withdrawn from the appearance,<ref name="huff metoo">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lemony-snicket-sexual-comments-anita-hill_us_5a987536e4b089ec353871b1|title='Lemony Snicket' Out As Wesleyan Speaker Amid Reports Of Inappropriate Comments|work=[[HuffPost]]|last=Madani|first=Doha|date=2 March 2018|access-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> to be replaced by [[Anita Hill]].<ref name="wp metoo"/>

==Bibliography==
Handler has published a variety of books under the name [[Lemony Snicket]], most notably the 13 books in the [[A Series of Unfortunate Events|''Unfortunate Events'']] series. These books are listed under [[Lemony Snicket bibliography]].

This section lists works published as Daniel Handler:
* ''[[The Basic Eight]]'', Thomas Dunne (1998)
* ''[[Watch Your Mouth (novel)|Watch Your Mouth]]'', St. Martin's Press/[[HarperCollins]] (2000)
* ''How to Dress for Every Occasion, by the Pope'' (with illustrations by Sarah "Pinkie" Bennett, pseudonym for Lisa Brown), [[McSweeney's]] (2005)
* ''[[Adverbs (novel)|Adverbs]]'', St. Martin's Press/[[HarperCollins]] (2006)
* ''[[Why We Broke Up]]'' (2011)
* ''[[We Are Pirates]]'' (2014)
* ''All the Dirty Parts'' (2017)
*''Bottle Grove'' (2019)
* ''And Then? And Then? What Else?'', Liveright (2024)

Handler also edited or contributed to the following books:
* ''Nonsense Novels'' by [[Stephen Leacock]] (introduction), New York Review of Books Classics (2004)
* ''[[Noisy Outlaws|Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs and Some Other Things That Aren't as Scary, Maybe, Depending on How You Feel About Lost Lands, Stray Cellphones, Creatures from the Sky, Parents Who Disappear in Peru, a Man Named Lars Farf and One Other Story We Couldn't Quite Finish, So Maybe You Could Help Us Out]]'' by McSweeney's (Introduction and Unfinished story)
* ''The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade'' by [[Herman Melville]] (preface), Dalkey Archive Press (2007)
* An essay, "Wining", in the anthology ''Money Changes Everything: Twenty-Two Writers Tackle the Last Taboo with Tales of Sudden Windfalls, Staggering Debts, and Other Surprising Turns of Fortune'' (2007)
* ''The Hour: A Cocktail Manifesto'' by [[Bernard DeVoto]] (introduction), republished by Tin House Books (2010)
* "Half-Minute Horrors"

== Discography ==
* ''[[69 Love Songs]]'' – [[The Magnetic Fields]]
* ''[[Hyacinths and Thistles]]'' – [[The 6ths]]
* ''[[The Tragic Treasury: Songs from A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' – [[The Gothic Archies]]
* ''[[Distortion (The Magnetic Fields album)|Distortion]]'' – The Magnetic Fields
* ''Nevermind the Context'' – [[Moth Wranglers]]
* ''[[The Composer Is Dead]]'' – A collaboration with Nathaniel Stookey, premiered in San Francisco at [[Davies Symphony Hall]] on July 8, 2006
* ''[[Realism (The Magnetic Fields album)|Realism]]'' – The Magnetic Fields
* ''Barricade'' – Stars
* ''[[Love at the Bottom of the Sea]]'' – The Magnetic Fields

==Filmography==
* ''[[Kill the Poor (film)|Kill the Poor]]'' (2003) – screenplay
* ''[[Rick (film)|Rick]]'' (2003) – writer
* ''[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]] '' (2004) – based on the books ''The Bad Beginning'', ''The Reptile Room'' and ''The Wide Window''
* ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events (TV series)|A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' (2017–2019) – based on the book series, writer, executive producer, title theme, original song lyrics<ref>{{cite web |title=Lemony Snicket interview |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=November 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026033646/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/authorinterviews/9599974/Lemony-Snicket-interview.html |archive-date=2021-10-26 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/authorinterviews/9599974/Lemony-Snicket-interview.html}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website |danielhandler.com}}
* [http://lemonysnicketlibrary.com ''All the Wrong Questions''] (official)
* [http://www.lemonysnicket.com ''A Series of Unfortunate Events''] (official)
* {{IMDb name|1274516}}
* [http://barclayagency.com/handler.html Biography at Barclay Agency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127102858/http://barclayagency.com/handler.html |date=November 27, 2012 }}
* {{LCAuth|n98075683|Daniel Handler|10|}}, and [https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n98-075683 Handler at WorldCat]
* [http://lccn.loc.gov/n99020360 Lemony Snicket] at LC Authorities, with 45 records, and [https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n99-020360 Snicket at WorldCat]

{{Daniel Handler}}
{{Snicket}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Main Title Theme – TV Show/Limited Series}}
{{Authority control}}

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