This book is based on a first-year graduate course given regularly by the first author at the University of Chicago, most recently in the
autumn quarters of 1991,1992, and 1993. The lectures given in this
course were expanded and prepared for publication by the second
author.
The aim or this book is to provide a concise yet thorough treat-
ment of some topics £rom group theory and representation theory
with which every mathematician should be well acquainted. or
course, the topics covered naturally refiect the viewpoints and in-
terests of the authors; for instance) we make no mention of free
groups) and the emphasis throughout is admittedly 00 finite gmups.
Our hope is that this book will enable graduate students £rom every
mathematical field, as well as bright 1Uldergraduates with an interest
in algebra, to solidify their knowledge of group theory.