In this book the latest developments in representation theory are surveyed in a series of expository articles based on lectures given at the 1985 LMS Durham Symposium on representations of algebras. The emphasis is on the representation type of finite-dimensional algebras. Topics covered include almost split sequences, the theory of tubes, tilting functions, hammocks, and triangulated categories. There are also papers on the representation type of local rings of singularities, and on recent results in the modular representation theory of finite groups. All the articles are designed to be self contained and should be a useful aid to someone wishing to bring themselves up to date in the subject.