Galois Theory

The new book on basic Galois theory by Jean-Pierre Escofier is refresh ingly different from the many books on the same subject already on the market. The book covers the standard basic material: symmetric polyno mials, field extensions, normal and Galois extensions, the Galois corr espondence, cyclotomic extensions, solvable groups, finite fields and separable and non-separable extensions. However, it also contains the following original features: a sketch of the early history of the subj ect from a very human viewpoint, containing a large number of excerpts from original works and a discussion of the problems of notation, dis covery, mathematical habits and disputes of former times, a complete c hapter on explicit constructions with ruler and compass, a chapter on the life of Evariste Galois and a chapter on recent developments which attempts to give an idea of what researchers in Galois theory are wor king on today.