The aim of this book is twofold: (i) to give an exposition of the basic theory of finite-dimensional algebras at a levelthat isappropriate for senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students, and (ii) to provide the mathematical foundation needed to prepare the reader for the advanced study of anyone of several fields of mathematics. The subject under study is by no means new-indeed it is classical- yet a book that offers a straightforward and concrete treatment of this theory seems justified for several reasons. First, algebras and linear trans- formations in one guise or another are...