Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich: Amazon.co.uk: Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich, Solomon Volkov: Books

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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews

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4 star:		(3)
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4.0 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Educational on many levels, 13 May 2004

By	riteofspring (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich (Paperback)

As a recent convert to the wonders of 20th century composers, I have an incredible hunger for knowledge about my new idols and their lives. This book, though heavy going at times, was extremely educational.

When I read it I knew nothing about the doubts of its authenticity.

If it is genuine, then it is a unique insight into the mind, the influences, the struggles and the friendships of Shostakovich that adds depth and context to his music. I found his opinions on his contemporaries particularly fascinating. It also works as a social history of 20th Century Russia and an examination of the position of an individual within the state. The personal conflict of patriotism versus desire for free expression, survival versus artistic integrity, popularity versus honesty, though more blantantly illustrated in Stalin's Russia, is something that touches all of our lives to a degree.

If it is a fake, then we can assume nothing about the personal views of Shostakovich. However, it is obviously written by someone with facts and insight on their side. The social and musical historic value remains, as do the critiques of other composers of the time.

Either way, it is an education.

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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly gripping and a revelation, 5 Jan 2003

By	Mr. F. L. Dunkin Wedd - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

I know there has been much controversy over this book, but I found it superb.

The two major things I gained from it were an insight into the man and his personality, and more precious, an understanding of how the regime under which he lived shaped him and his music.

Leading one to wonder what he would have written under a more liberal regime?

It's also well-written and I found it impossible to put down

Thoroughly recommended.

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12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Testimony is authentic and accurate, 23 Mar 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich (Paperback)

From 1992 to 1998, Dmitry Feofanov and I thoroughly researched the authenticity and accuracy of Testimony, including conducting interviews with Solomon Volkov, Maxim and Galina Shostakovich, and many others. In a forthcoming book, Shostakovich Reconsidered (Toccata Press, 1998), we reveal how opponents of the Shostakovich memoirs have failed to report all of the facts, have taken things out of proper context, and, above all, have remained curiously silent on the wealth of information that corroborates Testimony. (Allan B. Ho)

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Testimony Shstakovich
A fascinating book about a rather contraversial person. Translation is good and does not suffer from lack of continuity. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Mrs Enid M Holgate

1.0 out of 5 stars Volkov's work of fiction, or is it?
If Shostakovich comes over in his late music as bitter and twisted, old, tired and humourless, then this 'memoir' may be beliveable. Read more

Published 6 months ago by Cowboy Joe

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
For an insight into an artists life under Stalinism this book is unsurpassed.Itis fullof the dark humour and irony that characterise Shostakovitchs music .Do plese read this.

Published on 22 Aug 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is no fake...The discrediting has been discredited
Although numerous assaults have taken place against testimony, as if Dmitri Shostakovich had offered his heart on a platter in his film scores but not in the 4th quartet,... Read more

Published on 16 May 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Why the testimony seems unreliable
although the book is fascinating to read, i find it very amusing that throughout the introduction and preface, the editor seems desperate to convince his reader of his... Read more

Published on 27 Jan 1998

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting as a reading, thought it seems to be a fake
The fact that Volkov never answered to Laurel Fay, who suggested (in "Shostakovich vs. Volkov: whose Testimony", "The Russian Review", October 1980:484-493)... Read more

Published on 19 Dec 1997

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	75% buy the item featured on this page: Testimony: The Memoirs of Dmitri Shostakovich 4.0 out of 5 stars (9)
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