Wrinkle in Time, A (Madeleine L'Engle) - Not-so-Smart Calvin and Meg
In the part where Meg meets Calvin, Calvin asks Meg what the capital of New York is. Meg replies "New York City, of course." and Calvin tells her that she's right. However, the capital of New York is Albany!
this slip up is intentional. it is to prove how similar Calvin and Meg are. while both are genius in their other ways, they are horrible at school and things you would learn at their age...like state capitols
Well, the setting could be different in the book..because there was a time when New York City was the capitol, but this is probably a mistake, because New York City was the capitol when George Washington was president.
Yes, it is intentional, but not because Calvin doesn't know better. He had already corrected her on several other matters, and just decides to forgive this particular slip-up.
I looked through my book (copyright 1962) and Calvin never tells her she's right. In fact he groans to Mrs. Murry that he wouldn't want to teach her because she's one sided (all math and science).
I haven't read this book in awhile, and I don't have a copy available, but if I remember correctly, when Calvin says "You're right," he's addressing Meg's mother.
This is the dialogue from that section: (copyright 1962)
"By what countries is Peru bounded?"
"I haven't the faintest idea. I think it's in South America somewhere."
"What's the capitol of New York?"
"Well, New York City, of course!"
"Who wrote Boswell's 'Life of Johnson'?"
"Oh, Calvin, I'm not any good at English"
Calvin groaned and turned to Mrs. Murry. "I see what you mean. Her I wouldn't want to teach."
Therefore, Calvin never says that Meg is right.
A Wrinkle in Time could indeed be a different setting. Also, Calvin never does say she's right, but that's something totally different. In fact, it seems like it doesn't have much of a setting because most of the time they're "tessering" or "wrinkling" time. It's basically a whole new special kind of book.
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