This book is a study of group theoretical properties of two dis parate kinds, firstly finiteness conditions or generalizations of fini teness and secondly generalizations of solubility or nilpotence. It will be particularly interesting to discuss groups which possess properties of both types. The origins of the subject may be traced back to the nineteen twenties and thirties and are associated with the names of R. Baer, S. N. Cernikov, K. A. Hirsch, A. G. Kuros, 0.]. Schmidt and H. Wie landt. Since this early period, the body of theory has expanded at an increasingly rapid rate through the efforts of many group theorists, particularly in Germany, Great Britain and the Soviet Union. Some of the highest points attained can, perhaps, be found in the work of P. Hall and A. I. Mal'cev on infinite soluble groups. Kuras's well-known book "The theory of groups" has exercised a strong influence on the development of the theory of infinite groups: this is particularly true of the second edition in its English translation of 1955. To cope with the enormous increase in knowledge since that date, a third volume, containing a survey of the contents of a very large number of papers but without proofs, was added to the book in 1967.

This book is a study of group theoretical properties of two disparate kinds, firstly finiteness conditions or generalizations of finiteness, and secondly generalizations of solubility or nilpotence. Particularly interesting are the groups which possess properties of both types. This volume collects the most important results in the theory, to present them in a compact and accessible form with improved and shortened proofs wherever possible. Readers should have a good basic knowledge of group theory, Abelian groups, and the more familiar parts of commutative algebra and ring theory.

This book is a study of group theoretical properties of two disparate kinds, firstly finiteness conditions or generalizations of finiteness, and secondly generalizations of solubility or nilpotence. Particularly interesting are the groups which possess properties of both types. This volume collects the most important results in the theory, to present them in a compact and accessible form with improved and shortened proofs wherever possible. Readers should have a good basic knowledge of group theory, Abelian groups, and the more familiar parts of commutative algebra and ring theory.

The development of algebraic geometry over groups, geometric group theory and group-based cryptography, has led to there being a tremendous recent interest in infinite group theory. This volume presents a good collection of papers detailing areas of current interest.

Algebra, as we know it today, consists of many different ideas, concepts and results. A reasonable estimate of the number of these different items would be somewhere between 50,000 and 200,000. Many of these have been named and many more could (and perhaps should) have a name or a convenient designation. Even the nonspecialist is likely to encounter most of these, either somewhere in the literature, disguised as a definition or a theorem or to hear about them and feel the need for more information. If this happens, one should be able to find enough information in this Handbook to judge if it is worthwhile to pursue the quest. In addition to the primary information given in the Handbook, there are references to relevant articles, books or lecture notes to help the reader. An excellent index has been included which is extensive and not limited to definitions, theorems etc. The Handbook of Algebra will publish articles as they are received and thus the reader will find in this third volume articles from twelve different sections. The advantages of this scheme are two-fold: accepted articles will be published quickly and the outline of the Handbook can be allowed to evolve as the various volumes are published. A particularly important function of the Handbook is to provide professional mathematicians working in an area other than their own with sufficient information on the topic in question if and when it is needed.- Thorough and practical source for information- Provides in-depth coverage of new topics in algebra- Includes references to relevant articles, books and lecture notes