A Primer on Mapping Class Groups

New Version Coming!

We will be posting a new and very much improved version of the book on this web site in mid-to-late August 2008. If you would like an advance copy, please contact us. The new version will have a complete discussion of the Teichmuller theory needed for the Nielsen-Thurston Classification.

Current Version

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups (pdf), version 2.95, 27 August 2007.

Here is the latest version of the Primer. We will update this page as newer versions appear. The book is still in the form of a working draft, and so is incomplete and offered without warranty.

Comments/corrections/suggestions are welcomed. If you do send us comments, please let us know which version you are making comments on. Thanks!

Mailing list

We also plan to send announcements of major updates via a mailing list. Click here to subscribe.

FLP

A related project is a complete English translation of "Travaux de Thurston". Please contact Dan Margalit if you would like a copy or are interested in helping to edit the current draft.

Old versions

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups, version 2.0, 30 August 2005.

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups, version 2.1, 13 September 2005.

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups, version 2.2, 16 September 2005.

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups, version 2.3, 5 October 2005.

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups, version 2.4, 1 January 2006.

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups, version 2.5, 2 January 2007.

A Primer on Mapping Class Groups, version 2.9, 7 June 2007.