Anne Nédélec and Jean-Luc Bouchez are Professors in Earth Sciences at the University of Toulouse. Both are based at the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (Géosciences Environnement Toulouse). Anne is a petrologist, specialist of Precambrian Geology. Jean-Luc, a specialist in rock deformation, participated in the development of structural studies in magmatic rocks. Both have a broad experience in laboratory and field studies in Africa, Madagascar, Brazil, Iran, and France, among others.; Peter Bowden has been Professeur Invité in the Département de Géologie at Université de Saint Etienne since 1998. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of African Earth Sciences from 1993 to 2001, and Senior Lecturer and co-ordinator for the BSc Geochemistry degree at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, from 1987 to 1998. He is a specialist in African Geology and an expert on A-type granites.

The anticipated audience is expected to be broad-based, appealing to both an academic and general science readership. The book will be a valuable reference work for advanced undergraduate Earth Science courses in igneous geology, mineralogy and geochemistry and economic/ore geology. The authors, translator and publishers are to be congratulated on producing a welcome, authoritative and insightful contribution to the literature on granite. A recommended (and affordable) read!

• 1. What is a granite? ; 2. Origin of granitic magmas ; 3. Segregation of granitic melt ; 4. Genesis of hybrid granitoids: mingling and mixing ; 5. Transport of granitic magma ; 6. Emplacement and shape of granite plutons ; 7. Thermomechanical aspects in the country rocks around granite plutons ; 8. Crystallization of granitics magmas ; 9. Microstructures and fabrics of granites ; 10. Magnetic fabrics in granites ; 11. Zoning in granite plutons ; 12. Granites and plate tectonics ; 13. Precambrian granitic rocks ; 14. Granite metallogeny