Schur algebras are an algebraic system that provide a link between the representation theory of the symmetric and general linear groups. Dr. Martin gives a self-contained account of this algebra and those links, covering the basic ideas and their quantum analogues. He discusses not only the usual representation-theoretic topics (such as constructions of irreducible modules, the structure of blocks containing them, decomposition numbers and so on) but also the intrinsic properties of Schur algebras, leading to a discussion of their cohomology theory.