Hector O. Fattorini graduated from the Licenciado en Matemática, Universidad de Buenos Aires in 1960 and gained a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, in 1965. Since 1967, he has been a member of the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Review of the hardback: 'This outstanding monograph will be a great source both for experts and for graduate students interested in calculus of variations, non-linear programming, optimisation theory, optimal control and relaxation theory.' European Mathematical Society

• Part I. Finite Dimensional Control Problems: 1. Calculus of variations and control theory; 2. Optimal control problems without target conditions; 3. Abstract minimization problems: the minimum principle for the time optimal problem; 4. Abstract minimization problems: the minimum principle for general optimal control problems; Part II. Infinite Dimensional Control Problems: 5. Differential equations in Banach spaces and semigroup theory; 6. Abstract minimization problems in Hilbert spaces: applications to hyperbolic control systems; 7. Abstract minimization problems in Banach spaces: abstract parabolic linear and semilinear equations; 8. Interpolation and domains of fractional powers; 9. Linear control systems; 10. Optimal control problems with state constraints; 11. Optimal control problems with state constraints: The abstract parabolic case; Part III. Relaxed Controls: 12. Spaces of relaxed controls: topology and measure theory; 13. Relaxed controls in finite dimensional systems: existence theory; 14. Relaxed controls in infinite dimensional spaces: existence theory.