"A student approaching mathematical research is often discouraged by the sheer volume of the literature and the long history of the subject, even when the actual problems are readily understandable. Graduate Texts in Mathematics, is intended to bridge the gap between passive study and creative understanding; it offers introductions on a suitably advanced level to areas of current research. These introductions are neither complete surveys, nor brief accounts of the latest results only. They are textbooks carefully designed as teaching aids; the purpose of the authors is, in every case, to highlight the characteristic features of the theory. Graduate Texts in Mathematics can serve as the basis for advanced courses. They can either be the main or subsidiary sources for seminars, and they can be used for private study. Their guiding principle is to convince the student that mathematics is a living science."
From vintage GTM editions
