Monday, November 27, 2017

Anderson, M.T. Symphony for the City of the Dead.

Anderson, M.T.    Symphony for the City of the Dead. Candlewick Press   2017  456p. $14.99  Paperback  ISBN 978-0-7636-9100-4     hs  Historical fiction  VG-BN 

This narrative begins with a graphic description of the tumultuous world into which Dmitri Shostakovich was born in 1906. It continues throughout his life and describes his development as an artist. In his beloved Leningrad he experienced horrific events as desperate citizens struggled to survive. It was amongst the invading Nazi forces into the Soviet Union that Dmitri composed his symphony to honor, awaken, rally, and commemorate the people of Leningrad.

This well-researched book is very informative. Descriptions are horrific and graphic, but accurately describe the times. It is well written and honors Shostakovich in an admirable manner. Many photographs are included throughout the text, adding life to the narrative, and the captions provide additional information. The book concludes with extensive source notes, a bibliography, and an index.

This book is recommended for any high-school library.

Summary: Narrative of how Dmitri Shostakovich composed his symphony to honor, rouse, rally and commemorate the people of his city of Leningrad amid the invading Nazi force in 1943-1944.     


Shostakovich, Dmitri-Fiction                                --Virginia McGarvey

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