Research in solid-state physics in general and in the physics of dielectrics in particular has grown rapidly in scope and quan- tity in the last twenty-five years. In the fifties and early sixties, there was an upsurge of interest in ferroelectricity, piezoelectrici- ty' and pyroelectricity. The classical physics of dielectrics, rep- resented by books of H. Frohlich, C. P. Smyth, G. I. Skanavi, and A. von Hippel, is now unthinkable without ferroelectricity. The structure and properties of ferroelectrics have been described in a number of books and reviews, including those of W. Kanzig, H. D. Megaw, F. Jona and G. Shirane, W. J. Merz and E. Fatuzzo. The present work deals with the physics of crystalline di- electrics and is based on the investigations carried out by scien- tists throughout the world. But, understandably, the emphasis is on the research done in the USSR, particularly in the author's labo- ratory. A special feature of this two-volume treatise is the pro- minent place given to the symmetry and structure of dielectrics and to the importance of spontaneous electric polarization in many properties of crystals. In fact, these aspects take up the whole of the first volume. The second volume is concerned mainly with various properties and phenomena whose nature is illustrated by considering specific crystals. Thus, for example, the phenomena of polarization, piezoelectricity, electrostriction, etc. , are first discussed in detail. Then follow descriptions of these phenomena in specific compounds.

Research in solid-state physics in general and in the physics of dielectrics in particular has grown rapidly in scope and quan- tity in the last twenty-five years. In the fifties and early sixties, there was an upsurge of interest in ferroelectricity, piezoelectrici- ty, and pyroelectricity. The classical physics of dielectrics, rep- resented by books of H. Frohlich, C. P. Smyth, G. I. Skanavi, and A. von Hippel, is now unthinkable without ferroelectricity. The structure and properties of ferroelectrics have been described in a number of books and reviews, including those of W. Kanzig, H. D. Megaw, F. Jona and G. Shirane, W. J. Merz and E. Fatuzzo. The present work deals with the physics of crystalline di- electrics and is based on the investigations carried out by scien- tists throughout the world. But, understandably, the emphasis is on the research done in the USSR, particularly in the author's labo- ratory. A special feature of this two-volume treatise is the pro- minent place given to the symmetry and structure of dielectrics and to the importance of spontaneous electric polarization in many properties of crystals. In fact, these aspects take up the whole of the first volume. The second volume is concerned mainly with various properties and phenomena whose nature is illustrated by considering specific crystals. Thus, for example, the phenomena of polarization, piezoelectricity, electrostriction, etc., are first discussed in detail. Then follow descriptions of these phenomena in specific compounds.

"Modern Crystallography IV" is devoted to a systematic and up- to-date description of fundamental physical properties of solid and liquid crystals. These include elastic and mechanical, dielectric and ferroelectric, magnetic and optical properties, transport phenomena and spectroscopy. An important feature of the treatment is its use of the crystallographic approach, an introduction to which is given in the opening chapter of the book. The topics are treated at a level understandable to students who have two years of university physics. Researchers and engineers working on practical applications should also find the book useful, as should specialists in other fields who wish to broaden their knowledge of crystallography and materials science. The book is written by a group of leading scientists from the Institute of Crystallography of the USSR Academy of Sciences.