Shostakovich: A Life Remembered

Shostakovich: A Life Remembered offers a unique study of the great composer Dmitri Shostakovich, drawing on reminiscences from his contemporaries: family members, friends, fellow musicians, and other prominent figures of the time. Elizabeth Wilson covers the composer's life from his early successes to his struggles under the Stalinist regime, and his eventual international recognition as one of the leading composers of the 20th century.

She builds a detailed picture of Shostakovich's creative processes, how he was perceived by contemporaries, and the increasing contrast between his private life and public image as his fame grew. This revised edition, produced to coincide with the centenary of Shostakovich's birth, draws on many new writings about the composer. This provides both a more detailed and focused image of Shostakovich's life and a wider view of his cultural background. A particular aspect of Shostakovich revealed in this new edition is his sardonic and witty sense of humour, displayed in many of his letters to close friends.

Shostakovich: A Life Remembered provides fascinating insight into the complex personality and the musical life of this great composer, and examines his position as one of the major figures of cultural life in 20th-century Russia.