This unique monograph on Shostakovich is now available in a third, slightly revised edition. "If Shostakovich's music were unequivocal, it would have lost its fascination long ago. Only it can convey the truth about its creator. The fact that it also communicates the truth about an entire era makes it even more valuable. Therefore, we should today open our ears to the realization that Dmitri Shostakovich was a European artist whose experiences have more in common with those of people in the West than they might sometimes like to admit." Bernd Feuchtner.