Algebra (Q5907009)

The book under review is the fifth, again revised edition of an introductory textbook on algebra designed for students at (mainly German) universities. Apart from a few minor additions, slight changes and improvements, the author has left the well-proven text intact. However, the entire text has now been adapted to the new rules of German orthography. Five editions in ten years certainly bespeak the popularity and intensity of use of this book, whose particular features and advantages have been emphasized in the reviews of the previous editions (Zbl 0996.00002). Among those peculiarities remains the very fact that this text focuses on the basic algebra around algebraic equations and Galois theory, with many (marked) extras for additional reading and further-going studies in algebra, which is very beneficial for beginners in the field, and that the material is presented in a particularly reader-friendly style. The author succeeded in combining the historical heritage of classical algebra with a circumspect introduction to some more recent topics, including the elements of affine algebraic geometry, Kummer theory, Witt vectors, Galois descent, and algebraic differential calculus. Another user-friendly service is provided by the appendix to the text, in which detailed hints for the solution of the numerous exercises are offered. At any rate, this friendly introduction to topics in classical and modern algebra perfectly serves its purpose for beginners, who might find it very suitable for both self-instruction and additional class-room literature. Also, this book can be regarded as a solid fundament for the deeper study of modern abstract algebra, perhaps by means of one of the great comprehensive standard texts in the field such as the books by Serge Lang, Paul M. Cohn, I. Martin Isaacs, Pierre Grillet, Joseph J. Rotman, David Dummit and Richard Foote, Günter Scheja and Uwe Storch, Ernest V. Vinberg, or others. Especially the extremely careful and detailed explanations throughout the text help to wet the reader's appetite for more, sharpen his view to what algebra is all about, and let him see what it is good for.