A guide to the classification theorem for compact surfaces (Q691560)

The classification of compact topological surfaces belongs to the very first results in geometric topology. Early versions of it can be traced back to the works of \textit{A. F Möbius} (1861), \textit{J. B. Listing} (1862), \textit{C. Jordan} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 66, 22--72 (1866; ERAM 066.1714cj)], \textit{W. von Dyck} (1888), \textit{M. Dehn} and \textit{F. Heegaard} [Enzyklop. d. math. Wissensch. \(\text{III}_{1}\), 153--220 (1907; JFM 38.0510.14)], which partly appeared even before topology (or analysis situs) was initiated as a new branch of mathematics in the 19th century. In fact, topological surface theory may be seen as the beginning of combinatorial topology in general and as a result of the growing need to develop an appropriate fundament for the further study of Riemann's complex analysis, Gauss's theory of curvature of surfaces, the geometry of complex algebraic curves and other central topics of mathematical research in the 1860s. Due to both its history and its methodology, the classification theorem for compact surfaces appears as a highly natural and suitable incentive for learning some of the basic concepts, tools, and results of algebraic topology. Although the classification theorem for compact surfaces is covered in most textbooks on algebraic topology, its treatments differ considerably, ranging from rather informal and intuitive to very abstract and formalized. In view of this situation, the authors of the book under review have presented ``a guide to the classification theorem for compact surfaces'' which indeed cuts a central path between these extreme approaches. The book is geared toward an audience including first-year graduate students but also strongly motivated upper-level undergraduates, as the authors point out in the preface, and the overall presentation is actually utmost vivid, student-centered and nearly self-contained. The main text consists of six chapters and six supplementary appendices. Chapter 1 gives an informal presentation of the classification theorem for compact surfaces, very much as in \textit{W. S. Massey's} classic standard book ``Algebraic Topology: An introduction'' [Graduate Texts in Mathematics, Vol. 56, 5th ed., Springer, New York (1981; Zbl 0457.55001)]. The following four chapters develop the technical tools from algebraic topology to provide a rigorous proof of the classification theorem. More precisely, Chapter 2 explains the definition of a topological surface. Chapter 3 discusses simplices, simplicial complexes and triangulations. Chapter 4 introduces the fundamental group, the concept of orientability of a surface and surfaces with boundary, whereas Chapter 5 describes the very basics of simplicial and singular homology, including the computation of the homology groups of finite polyhedra. Subsequently, a near-complete proof of the classification theorem for compact surfaces is given in Chapter 6, the main chapter of the book. The combinatorial proof presented here is compared to various other proofs of the classification theorem. Furthemore, as an application of the latter, the computation of the fundamental groups of compact surfaces is outlined, together with a few remarks on the famous Poincaré conjecture and its history. Appendix A depicts the real projective plane in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) via the cross cap and the so-called Steiner Roman surface. Appendix B gives P. Samuel's proof of the structure theorem for finitely generated Abelian groups, whereas Appendix C collects some preliminaries from general topology. Appendix D discusses quite extensively the fascinating history of the classification theorem for compact surfaces, and Appendix E presents C. Thomassen's proof of T. Radó's classical theorem stating that every compact surface can be triangulated. The main reference is here the paper ``The Jordan-Schönflies Theorem and the Classification of Surfaces'' by \textit{C. Thomassen} [Am. Math. Mon. 99, No. 2, 116--130 (1992; Zbl 0773.57001)]. Finally, various notes and supplementary proofs are added in Appendix F. All together the book under review offers a beautiful introduction to one of the oldest and most fascinating theorems in algebraic topology, along with a first and leisurely, nevertheless sufficiently rigorous introduction to the relevant general principles of algebraic topology itself. Especially the historical remarks concerning the classification theorem for compact surfaces are highly enlightening to anyone interested in topology, and the many related biographies and photographs are just as entertaining. Also, there is a wealth of coloured geometric figures illustrating the abstract material in a very instructive manner, which will be particularly helpful and inspiring for beginners in the field. No doubt, this is an introductory text of remarkable didactic value.