Filling an important gap in the literature, this comprehensive text develops conformal field theory from first principles. The treatment is self-contained and pedagogical, and includes a great deal of background material on quantum field theory, statistical mechanics, Lie algebras and affine Lie algebras. The many exercises, with a wide spectrum of difficulty and subjects, complement and in many cases extend the text. The text is thus not only a useful tool for classroom teaching, but also for individual study. Intended primarily for graduate students and researchers in theoretical high...