Shafarevich's Basic Algebraic Geometry has been a classic and
universally used introduction to the subject since its first appearance
over 40 years ago. As the translator writes in a prefatory note, ``For
all [advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate] students, and for
the many specialists in other branches of math who need a liberal
education in algebraic geometry, Shafarevich's book is a must.'' The
third edition, in addition to some minor corrections, now offers a new
treatment of the Riemann--Roch theorem for curves, including a proof
from first principles.
Shafarevich's book is an attractive and accessible introduction to
algebraic geometry, suitable for beginning students and nonspecialists,
and the new edition is set to remain a popular introduction to the
field.