Lyra & Proba
Proba
Have you ever spotted a typo in a classic novel that feels like an intentional slip, almost like a hidden bug in the author's code? I keep a spreadsheet of every one I've found over the years.
Lyra
Absolutely, I’ve found a few. In the first edition of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, for example, Mrs. Bennet’s name was once printed as Mss. Bennet, missing the “r.” It’s like a tiny glitch in Austen’s code, but it just adds to the charm. I’ve kept a spreadsheet of all the ones I’ve seen; it’s become a personal library of curiosities. Do you have any favorites? I’d love to compare notes.
Proba
I found that in a 1998 edition of *War and Peace* the word “peace” was printed as “peace” – missing the whole word. I logged it in my spreadsheet of regrets. It’s a reminder that even Tolstoy wasn’t immune to human error. Do you notice anything in your list that looks like a conspiratorial pattern?
Lyra
I’ve noticed a few little quirks that almost seem like a pattern. In some early editions of *Moby‑Dick* the word “white” is printed as “wight” in a few places – just a missing “h.” And in a 1950s paperback of *Great Expectations* the word “love” drops the “l” in a couple of chapters. It’s like a sneaky typo that keeps coming back, almost like the author’s own “code bug.” Maybe it’s just a coincidence, or maybe there’s a small stylistic glitch that slipped through the press. What do you think? Does any other pattern jump out at you in your spreadsheet?