Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
Written by M. T. Anderson
In Symphony for the City of the Dead, author M. T. Anderson explores the terrifying siege of Leningrad through composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony. Much of this symphony was composed while the city was burning and Russians were starving around him. The history of this book was so informative. From Lenin to Stalin the reader is exposed to the horrors of the dictatorship they imposed upon the Russian people. I found myself feeling a huge range of emotions. The fear and deprivation they experienced were incomprehensible. Shostakovich was often caught in the middle from what he felt and knew was right to having to comply to keep those close to him safe from such evil. His music brought feelings of solidarity and hope to those who heard it. A great read for both adults and young adults. It is deep and would be better suited for those in high school.
Review by Jennifer Merkley, Churchill Jr High Media Center
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 9-12
Author Website: http://mt-anderson.com/
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
Written by M. T. Anderson
Candlewick Press
456 pages
Release Date: September 22, 2015
