Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad

Symphony for the City of the Dead

Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad

2015 • 463 pages

Ratings9

Average rating4.4

15

A work of beauty as strange as its subject, I think this book should ideally be taught in schools. I doubt this will ever be, seeing as its subject is often too brutal for me, at least, to feel safe foisting it on young and already nihilistic teenagers. Regardless, this book has something to say, and it says it eloquently and evenly, never shouting its message, but getting it across nonetheless. I highly recommend the version read by Anderson himself.

December 1, 2016