This book, which was originally published in 1985 and has been translated and revised by the author from notes of a course, is an introduction to certain central ideas in group theory and geometry. Professor Lyndon emphasises and exploits the well-known connections between the two subjects and, whilst keeping the presentation at a level that assumes only a basic background in mathematics, leads the reader to the frontiers of current research at the time of publication. The treatment is concrete and combinatorial with a minimal use of analytic geometry. In the interest of the reader's intuition, most of the geometry considered is two-dimensional and there is an emphasis on examples, both in the text and in the problems at the end of each chapter.

From the reviews:"This book (...) defines the boundaries of the subject now called combinatorial group theory. (...)it is a considerable achievement to have concentrated a survey of the subject into 339 pages. This includes a substantial and useful bibliography; (over 1100 (items)). ...the book is a valuable and welcome addition to the literature, containing many results not previously available in a book. It will undoubtedly become a standard reference." Mathematical Reviews, AMS, 1979

This book, which was originally published in 1985 and has been translated and revised by the author from notes of a course, is an introduction to certain central ideas in group theory and geometry. Professor Lyndon emphasises and exploits the well-known connections between the two subjects and, whilst keeping the presentation at a level that assumes only a basic background in mathematics, leads the reader to the frontiers of current research at the time of publication. The treatment is concrete and combinatorial with a minimal use of analytic geometry. In the interest of the reader's intuition, most of the geometry considered is two-dimensional and there is an emphasis on examples, both in the text and in the problems at the end of each chapter.

From the reviews:"This book (...) defines the boundaries of the subject now called combinatorial group theory. (...)it is a considerable achievement to have concentrated a survey of the subject into 339 pages. This includes a substantial and useful bibliography; (over 1100 (items)). ...the book is a valuable and welcome addition to the literature, containing many results not previously available in a book. It will undoubtedly become a standard reference." Mathematical Reviews, AMS, 1979