When does the plot take place?

[Donavan]

Who knows? At first I thought it was a period piece (i.e. historical), but there are some references near the end of the book (specifics escape me at the moment) that made me rethink the temporal setting and place it much closer to modern times. You might have noticed that the narrator refers to his friend, Wittgenstien's nephew, at least twice. Late twentieth century would be a safe guess.

[Lobstergirl]

The book was published in 1982, so I would think sometime between 1950 and then. I don't think it especially matters to pin it down. It's not really relevant to the plot or the writing, is it?