Based on invited lectures at the 1992 Canadian Algebra Seminar, this volume represents an up-to-date and unique report on finite-dimensional algebras as a subject with many serious interactions with other mathematical disciplines, including algebraic groups and Lie theory, automorphic forms, sheaf theory, finite groups, and homological algebra. It will interest mathematicians and graduate students in these and related subjects as an introduction to research in an area of increasing relevance and importance.

Based on invited lectures at the 1992 Canadian Algebra Seminar, this volume represents an up-to-date and unique report on finite-dimensional algebras as a subject with many serious interactions with other mathematical disciplines, including algebraic groups and Lie theory, automorphic forms, sheaf theory, finite groups, and homological algebra. It will interest mathematicians and graduate students in these and related subjects as an introduction to research in an area of increasing relevance and importance.

This English edition has an additional chapter "Elements of Homological Al gebra." Homological methods appear to be effective in many problems in the theory of algebras; we hope their inclusion makes this book more complete and self-contained as a textbook. We have also taken this occasion to correct several inaccuracies and errors in the original Russian edition. We should like to express our gratitude to V. Dlab who has not only metic ulously translated the text, but has also contributed by writing an Appendix devoted to a new important class of algebras, viz. quasi-hereditary algebras....