A review by carstensena
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson

5.0

An incredible synthesis of biography, history and musicology. I knew about the Siege of Leningrad, but the brutality of that time was still shocking to read. Shostakovich both lived through and influenced the major events of Russian history in the first half of the 20th century. The depth of research (some of it original) is remarkable. Anderson does a great job of describing symphonies for readers who may not listen to classical music, and explaining the importance of the arts during difficult times. He also helps readers negotiate the unreliable information that came out of Stalin's Russia with perfect clarity. Fascinating through and through.
(I especially enjoyed the fact that, coincidentally, this book continues Russian history from the point that Candace Fleming's The Family Romanov leaves off!)