As a huge fan of the composer, I found Alan George's recollections of Shostakovich fascinating and quite moving. I have long treasured my Decca London set of the complete String Quartets from the Fitzwilliam Qt., and just recently I managed to get the complete set on Melodiya from the Shostakovich Qt., the booklets replete with Alan George's brilliantly detailed notes - indeed, I was just coming to the end of a second listen to the set when the first article went up!
It seems the jury will always be out regarding Shostakovich (which I've never understood), but for myself I find the heroism, humanity and humour in his music, and his life, to be incredibly inspiring.