“An ambitious and inventive novel of love and rebellion that brilliantly brings history to life with passionately detailed descriptive writing that moves from the personal to the political. This rich family saga spans a century of life on the Manitoba prairie, a larger-than-life landscape peopled with memorable characters. Sweatman's writing is masterfully layered, funny, spirited, generous and wise, and the book is full of unexpected pleasures that make it a compelling read.” — 2001 Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize Jury (Lesley Choyce, Eliza Clark, and Olive Senior)