Graph Theory As I Have Known It (Oxford Lecture Series in Mathematics and Its Applications, 11)

William Tutte, one of the founders of modern graph theory, provides a unique and personal introduction to the field. Instead of a typical survey, the author looks back at the areas which interested him most, discussing why he pursued certain problems and how he and his colleagues solved them. The book's extensive references make it a useful starting point for research as well as an important document for anyone interested in the history of graph theory. The author begins with the problems he worked on as an undergraduate at Cambridge and goes on to cover subjects such as combinatorial problems in chess, algebra in graph theory, reconstruction of graphs, symmetry in graphs, and the chromatic eigenvalues. In each case he mixes fascinating historical and biographical information with engaging descriptions of important results. This book provides a unique and unusual introduction to graph theory by one of the founding fathers, and will be of interest to all researchers in the subject. It is not intended as a comprehensive treatise, but rather as an account of those parts of the theory that have been of special interest to the author. Professor Tutte details his experience in the area, and provides a fascinating insight into how he was led to his theorems and the proofs he used. As well as being of historical interest it provides a useful starting point for research, with references to further suggested books as well as the original papers. The book starts by detailing the first problems worked on by Professor Tutte and his colleagues during his days as an undergraduate member of the Trinity Mathematical Society in Cambridge. It covers subjects such as comnbinatorial problems in chess, the algebraicization of graph theory, reconstruction of graphs, and the chromatic eigenvalues. In each case fascinating historical and biographical information about the author's research is provided. W.t. Tutte. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. [147]-152.