The book is in Russian. Preparation of texts for publication, introductory article, comments by M. I. Aleinikov The essay by V. B. Shklovsky is one of the few texts written about Shostakovich by outstanding writers during his lifetime. Appearing during the World War II, this essay was published twice at the same time, but - a paradox of history! - remained completely outside the attention of both researchers and ordinary music lovers of the great composer. Readers are offered two versions of the text: the original, author’s, kept in the archive for many years, and with editorial corrections, published in 1943 in the collection ''Stalin’s Tribe''. The publication is accompanied by an introductory article devoted to the history of the essay and the peculiarities of its content, as well as detailed textual and reference comments.