This book grew out of a course of lectures given to third year undergraduates at Oxford University, and it has the modest aim of producing a rapid introduction to the subject. It is designed to be read by students who have had a first elementary course in general algebra. On the other hand, it is not intended as a substitute for the more voluminous tracts such as Zariski-Samuel or Bourbaki. The author has concentrated on certain central topics, and large areas, such as field theory, are not touched. In content it covers rather more ground than Northcott and the treatment is substantially different in that, following the modern trend, more emphasis is put on modules and localization.