How is the original TBB character presentation sheet?

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

I have asked this question which is a serious doubt of mine among several intensely provocative questions in a moment of hurt pride, so I think it is best to separate this question from the rest of the questions in order to receive direct answers ...

So the question is: In the original English version of TBB, on the page where Lemony introduces the main characters, there is a phrase from Lemony in which he introduces himself. Well, this is so in the Portuguese version, which I have a copy at home ... But in the digital version in English, and even in the digital version in Portuguese, I did not find this page, with this paragraph. (I had to buy the english versions on google play store).The information contained involves Lemony's birthplace as well as the fact that he spent years conducting research. Could you please copy here the paragraph I am referring to? This paragraph is especially important to me in my theory, both about Lemony's story, how he was deceived in the story they told him, and how he later discovered the truth ... You know if in TBB: RE this paragraph also exists? I also only have the digital English version, where this paragraph does not exist either.

[Foxy]

Jean I'm not real sure what you're requesting. So in your book, Lemony introduces himself? I'm not sure that is in my book. I think he just introduces Violet, Klaus, and Sunny at the beginning and says it is his duty to tell their story.

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

It's like this Foxy, in Portuguese

Eu, LEMONY SNICKET, nasci antes de você e provavelmente morrerei antes de você. Nasci numa pequena vila que hoje está submersa. Um povoado aparentemente pacato, mas cercado de segredos. Hoje vivo na cidade. Para escrever essas desventuras dos irmãos Baudelaire fui obrigado a conhecer a fundo as artimanhas de vilões como o conde Olaf. Passei anos mergulhado no mundo do crime, não dos crimes reais, é claro. Minha formação é estritamente teórica.
Veja mais informações no meu site: www.lemonysnicket.com (em inglês).

translate google translate:

I, LEMONY SNICKET, were born before you and will probably die before you. I was born in a small village that is submerged today. A seemingly peaceful village, but surrounded by secrets. Today I live in the city. To write these misadventures of the Baudelaire brothers, I was obliged to know the rogues of villains such as Count Olaf. I spent years immersed in the world of crime, not real crime, of course. My background is strictly theoretical.
See more information on my website: www.lemonysnicket.com.

[Dante]

The specific author text you cite appears to be partly a composite of various English edition biographies complete with some original material. (I'm also not convinced that the character introduction page you cite exists, either. There are no sections not integrated with the body of the narrative which introduce the main characters.) The author biographies in the original English editions aren't integrated into the text, but rather appear in the back of the book, between the endpiece illustration and the Kind Editor letters, or on the rear dustjacket flap where applicable; and one notable difference is that they are written in third-person rather than first-. This must be my lucky day, because that means I now have to type up eighteen of the wretched things. I'm referring to my HarperCollins The Complete Wreck editions (HC editions having a little more text, at least in some volumes, than the Egmont editions) and the original Little, Brown & Co. editions of ATWQ. There's also a generic blurb pointing to Snicket's then-website which I will not include. No, I will not scan the photographs of Snicket and illustrations of Helquist, or vice-versa.

TBB

LEMONY SNICKET was born in a small town where the inhabitants were suspicious and prone to riot. He now lives in the city. During his spare time he gathers evidence and is considered something of an expert by leading authorities. These are his first books for HarperCollins.

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Gonado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in New York City. He earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University and has been illustrating ever since. His art has appeared in many publications, including Cricket magazine and The New York Times.

TRR

(Same as TBB for both.)

TWW

LEMONY SNICKET was born before you were and is likely to die before you as well. A studied expert in rhetorical analysis, Mr. Snicket has spent the last several eras researching the travails of the Baudelaire orphans. His findings are being published serially by HarperCollins.

(Same as TBB/TRR for Helquist, and from now on where not stated, but with "Gonado" corrected to "Ganado".)

TMM

LEMONY SNICKET grew up near the sea and currently lives beneath it. To his horror and dismay he has no wife or children, only enemies, associates, and the occasional loyal manservant. His trial has been delayed, so he is free to continue researching and writing the tragic tales of the Baudelaire orphans for HarperCollins.

TAA

LEMONY SNICKET first received his education from public schools and private tutors, and then vice versa. He has been hailed as a brilliant scholar, discredited as a brilliant fraud, and mistaken for a much taller man on serveral occasions. Mr. Snicket's researching skills are currently and devoutly concentrated on the plight of the Baudelaire orphans, published serially by HarperCollins.

TEE

LEMONY SNICKET's extended family, if they were alive, would describe him as a distinguished scholar, an amateur connoisseur, and an outright gentleman. Unfortunately this description has been challenged of late, but HarperCollins continues to support his research and writing on the lives of the Baudelaire orphans.

TVV

LEMONY SNICKET is the author of quite a few books, all dreadful, and has been accused of many crimes, all falsely. Until recently, he was living someplace else.

THH

LEMONY SNICKET is widely regarded as one of the most difficult children's authors to capture and imprison. Recently, he had to give up on his hobbies due to laws regarding musical performances in mountainous terrain. Most things written about him are not true, but this is.

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in New York City, where among other noble pursuits, he translates Mr. Snicket's obscure findings into the images that help readers understand the horror of the Baudelaires' plight.

TCC

LEMONY SNICKET published his first book in 1999 and has not had a good night's sleep since. Once the recipient of several distinguished awards, he is now an escapee of several indistinguishable prisons. Early in his life, Mr. Snicket learned to reupholster furniture, a skill that turned out to be far more important than anyone imagined.

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Ganado, Arizona, and grew up in Orem, Utah. He studied hard to become an illustrator, but can't help wondering if he might have chosen to become something safer, like a pirate. Despite the risks, he continues to translate Lemony Snicket's odd findings into unusual pictures.

TSS

Until recently, LEMONY SNICKET was presumed to be "presumed dead." Instead, this "presumed" presumption wasn't disproved to not be incorrect. As he continues with his investigation, interest in the Baudelaire case has increased. So has his horror.

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University and has been illustrating ever since. His work deciphering the evidence provided by Lemony Snicket into pictures often leaves him so distraught that he is awake late into the night.

TGG

LEMONY SNICKET has received several citations for bravery in the face of evil and several more for caution when bravery might have proven to be more trouble than it was worth. He was last seen by witnesses who proved to be unreliable and/or of a particularly suspicious nature. In his spare time he hides all traces of his actions.

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. In order to depict the tragic lives of the Baudelaire orphans, he uses broken pencils, dried-up paint, and boxes and boxes of tissues.

TPP

LEMONY SNICKET has been chronicling the lives of the Baudelaire children with only occasional breaks for food, rest, and court-appointed swordfights. His hobbies include nervous apprehension, increasing dread, and wondering if his enemies were right after all.

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University and has been illustrating ever since. Sometimes he finds his work so distressing that he sends himself flowers, but it never helps.

The End

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. He is hopeful that with the publication of the last book in A Series of Unfortunate Events, he'll be able to step outside more often in the daytime, and sleep better at night.

LEMONY SNICKET is the author of all 170 chapters of A Series of Unfortunate Events. He is almost finished.

Chapter Fourteen

LEMONY SNICKET is still at large.

BRETT HELQUIST was born in Ganado, Arizona, grew up in Orem, Utah, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Unfortunately, he gets out rarely during the daytime, and sleeps very little at night.

?1

LEMONY SNICKET had an unusual education and a perplexing youth and now endures a despondent adulthood. His previous works include the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Composer is Dead, and 13 Words.

SETH has portrayed suspicious circumstances and shady characters in much of his work. He is a multi-award-winning cartoonist, author, and artist, whose works include Palookaville, Clyde Fans, and The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists.

?2

LEMONY SNICKET is older than you and should know better. He is responsible for All the Wrong Questions, as well as all the books in A Series of Unfortunate Events.

SETH appears innocent, but looks can be deceiving. He is the creator of Palookaville, Clyde Fans, and The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists and can be blamed for the art in All the Wrong Questions.

?3

LEMONY SNICKET had an unusual education which may or may not explain his ability to evade capture. He is the author of the thirteen volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events; several picture books, including The Dark; and the books collectively titled All the Wrong Questions.

SETH was educated in Canada, where he learned that doodling in the margins could translate into gainful employment. He is the multi-award-winning creator of cartoons, graphic novels, and a barbershop located in the city of Guelph, Canada, where he resides.

?4

LEMONY SNICKET has ridden the rails, gotten off track, and lost his train of thought. His investigative research has been collected and published in books, including those in A Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions.

If SETH has any regrets about working with Lemony Snicket, it's clear now that train has left the station. Seth is a multi-award-winning cartoonist, author, and artist, whose works include Palookaville, Clyde Fans, and The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists. He lives in Guelph, Canada.

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

Thank you Dante! This means that the Brazilian version is special ... When I read in ATWQ about a village that was submerged, I immediately thought of where Lemony claims to have been born in the introduction of TBB. I was always confused because I thought he was born in Dairy. And that was one of the reasons that led me to think that when Lemony wrote the letter about The Little Snicket Lad, I deduced that at that time Lemony was wrong about his own life story, but later he discovered the truth.


"To write these misadventures of the Baudelaire brothers, I was obliged to know the rogues of villains such as Count Olaf. I spent years immersed in the world of crime, not real crime, of course."


Also, this introduction made me imagine Lemony writing years later about the past, since when I started reading ASOUE.




TBB was released in Brazilian Portuguese in 2001. Did Daniel Handler already have any better ideas about the history of Lemony Snicket when the Brazilian version was released? Or do you think this introduction is not canonical?

[Dante]

I am inclined to think that the introduction passage you cite is not canonical, because it was probably not written by Handler. It's not wholly unusual for translators to make changes of that sort where they or their editors think it might be more suitable for the local audience; for instance, the French translations of ASoUE are fairly well-known for having changed several of the characters' names (the infamous Baudelaire orphans, Violette, Klaus, et Prunille...).

[Optimism is my Phil-osophy]

I hear that Dr. Owel didn't die in France. In Brazil, Captain W is called Captain Andarré. (But not on ATWQ, which caused some confusion). And I must confess that to this day I don't quite understand the original version of the code used by Aunt Josefine ... in Portuguese are very clear spelling errors. But in English, I didn't get it right, because it's hard for me to identify misspellings in English.