This first systematic account of the basic theory of normed algebras, without assuming associativity, includes many new and unpublished results and is sure to become a central resource for researchers and graduate students in the field. The first volume focuses on the non-associative generalizations of (associative) C*-algebras provided by the so-called non-associative Gelfand-Naimark and Vidav-Palmer theorems, which give rise to alternative C*-algebras and non-commutative JB*-algebras, respectively. The relationship between non-commutative JB*-algebras and JB*-triples is also fully discussed. The second volume revisits JB*-triples, covers Zel'manov's celebrated work in Jordan theory, proves the unit-free variant of the Vidav-Palmer theorem, and develops the representation theory of alternative C*-algebras and non-commutative JB*-algebras. The book interweaves pure algebra, geometry of normed spaces, and complex analysis, and includes a wealth of historical comments, background material, examples and exercises. The authors also provide an extensive bibliography.
