Algebras, quivers, representation type, Auslander-Reiten theory, coverings -- Special biserial algebras and the local semidihedral algebra -- Tame symmetric local algebras -- More on modules, quivers, Auslander-Reiten sequences -- Stable Auslander-Reiten components for tame blocks -- Algebras of dihedral type -- Algebras of guaternion type -- Algebras of semidihedral type -- Centres, blocks, decomposition numbers -- Some applications.

This monograph studies algebras that are associated to blocks of tame representation type. Over the past few years, a range of new results have been obtained and a comprehensive account of these is provided here to- gether with some new proofs of known results. Some general theory of algebras is also presented, as a means of understanding the subject. The book is addressed to researchers and graduate students interested in the links between representations of finite-dimensional algebras and modular group representation theory. The basic properties of modules and finite-dimensional algebras are assumed known.