Prairie Sunset: A Story of Change by Saskatchewan-born author Dion Manastyrski is a book that pays tribute to the pioneering generations who settled the Canadian Prairies. In vivid imagery and compelling narrative, Manastyrski seeks to capture a vanishing era of Prairie life and share this remarkable story with readers.
The author has created a book that is part coffee table art book and part history book. He has filled almost half of the book’s 240 pages with his own carefully chosen high-quality photographs. He has also included archival photographs, showing such documents as the turn of the century posters enticing European farmers to the Prairies. Manastyrski also interviewed over 70 people and shares quotes and narratives about their experiences, sorrows and successes.
The author aimed to capture a bygone era and he has succeeded. First, the title, Prairie Sunset, is an apt metaphor for the waning pioneer days and he hopes to capture the last rays of its light before the sun sets on that way of life.
The general introduction to the book and the narrative passages make a huge impression as readers learn about the hardships of the homesteaders. No one could imagine living that way today. The photographs of Prairie fields, old abandoned houses, barns, schools, homes and churches hint at the life these homesteaders built despite the challenges. The texts and photos also speak to the collective resilience of that generation. They defied weather, wildlife, disease and language barriers to create a full life for themselves. As Canadians contemplate Canada’s 150th anniversary, they understand that all of these efforts were for us today.
This second printing of the book is a special version to commemorate Canada 150 with a translucent band on the front cover bearing the official Canada 150 logo. It’s a must for libraries and museums to add to our Saskatchewan story. The book is recommended for readers interested in early Saskatchewan and Canadian history and for those who enjoy personal narratives as well as anyone wishing to view some fantastic photography of the Prairies.
The idea for the book was born back in 2003 when Manastyrski made a trip to Saskatchewan to photograph how the Prairie landscape was changing. This grew into a book with additional narrative that took him seven years to complete.
The book was independently published and printed at Friesens in Altona, Manitoba. Manastyrski has been touring the Prairies distributing the book at locations across the province. He recently made a tour of the southern part of the province.
Prairie Sunset: A Story of Change is available at Styles for Home in Gravelbourg, at Lafleche Pharmacy in Lafleche, at Home General Store and Limerick Co-op in Limerick, at Harvey’s Home Centre in Assiniboia, Floyd’s Variety Store in Willow Bunch, Poplar River Pharmacy in Coronach, at Aust’s Store in Big Beave and Pharmasave in Radville.
