This introductory textbook describes fundamental groups and their topological soul mates, the covering spaces. The author provides several illustrative examples that touch upon different areas of mathematics, but in keeping with the books introductory aim, they are all quite elementary. Basic concepts are clearly defined, proofs are complete, and no results from the exercises are assumed in the text.

This work describes fundamental groups and their topological soul mates, the covering spaces. An example of the algebraic topologist's dream come true, covering spaces are a geometric (that is, topological) structure that is completely characterized by its algebraic counterpart. areas of mathematics, but in keeping with the book's introductory aim, they are all quite elementary. Basic concepts are clearly defined, proofs are complete, and no results from the exercises are assumed in the text.