1930s to 1980s

The book is generally comprised of specific anecdotes, and these anecdotes are spread across a chronological period of several decades. Arguably, the earliest significant point in the novel is in 1939, when Tribid and his parents temporarily live in London with the Price family. The novel then relates various important personal and political events at various points throughout these decades. The latest chronological point appears to be the early 1980s. The narrator is about 30 years old, and he goes to London to visit Ila and Nick following Ila and Nick’s honeymoon.

Calcutta, India

The narrator was born and raised in Calcutta, a large and populous city in India. Tha’mma and Mayadebi were born and raised in Dhaka, but they eventually married and relocated to other places. Tha’mma relocated with her husband to Calcutta. When the narrator is a child, he lives with his parents...