Below is the broad timeline of the of the book. The book is primarily about the years 1878-1887.
- 1844/45 – Gopal Joshee was born in Sangamner, and Theodocia Carpenter was born in Duchess County, NY.
- 1865 – Anandi was born in Pune
- 1874 – Anandi and Gopal were married at Kalyan
- 1877 – Anandi gave birth to a son who died within weeks of being born
- 1878 – Gopal wrote a letter in the fall of 1878 to Rev. Wilder of Princeton, NJ, seeking his help to educate his 14-year-old wife Anandi.
- 1879 – the letter and Rev. Wilder’s response to it were published in The Missionary Review in January 1879.
- 1880 – Theodocia Carpenter, a New Jersey housewife, wrote a letter to the Joshees
- 1880-1883 – Correspondence between Theodocia and Anandi. During this period the Joshees had moved from Kolhapur, to Bombay, to Bhuj, and finally to Calcutta. The letters covered everything from frank discussions of religion and women’s role in society to to exchanges of recipes, locks of hair, and books, and periodicals.
- 1883 – Living in Calcutta at the time, Anandi gave a speech explaining her reasons for pursuing an education in America.
- 1883 – Anandi set sail for America and was met by Theodocia Carpenter and her husband Benjamin. She stayed at their home for over four months, until enrolling at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
- 1885 – Gopal landed in San Francisco
- 1886 – Anandi graduated from WMCP. The graduation was attended by several thousand people, among them Pundita Ramabai, who was more well-known than Anandi.
- 1887 – Owing to Anandi’s failing health, the Joshees returned to India. They hoped that being at home would aid her recovery. Unfortunately, this was not to be and she passed away within weeks of landing.
- 1893 – Anandi’s ashes were sent to the Carpenters.
- 1920 – Deaths of Theodocia Carpenter and Gopal Joshee.