ABSTRACT
In the eighteenth century, it became fashionable for wealthy young Englishmen to undertake the Grand Tour, an excursion which may have lasted several years, their principal destinations being Paris and the great cultural centres of ItalyRome, Venice, Florence and Naples. For many, no doubt, the joys of traveling and occasional revelry were a sufficient inducement. For others, the opportunity to observe at first hand the social, literary and artistic achievements of other nations represented the completion of their liberal education. For a few, perhaps, it was the starting point of an independent intellectual career. It is in somewhat the same spirit that I wish to offer readers of this book a guided grand tour of theoretical physics. The members of my party need be neither wealthy (my publisher permitting), young, English nor male. I am, however, going to assume that they have a sound knowledge of basic physics, such as a student in his or her final year of undergraduate study ought to possess.
