Book Review. Acta Crystallographica 2002, B58, page 1075
A.M. Glazer, Department of Physics Claredon Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK

Perovskites, whose general formula is give by ABX3, where A and B are cations and X is an anion, form a very important class of inorganic crystals whose physical properties are extensively used in many technological applications. These generally arise from the large range of pseudosymmetrically related crystal structures. The basic, so-called aristotype structure, consists of an infinite array of corner-linked anion octohedra, with the A-cations in the spaces between octahedra and a B cation at the centre of each octahedron. This structure can then be altered by allowing the cations to move away from their central positions, either together, in which case has polar structures, or antiparallel. In addition, the octahedra can tilt about different directions, giving rise to multiple unit cells, and they can be distorted.

For the crystallographer they are a delight as the vast range of structures can furnish a lifetime of study. What is surprising is that, apart from one text published by F.S. Galsso many years ago, no-one until now has put together a complete account in English on this intriguing family of structures. This new book by Roger Mitchell addresses this gap in a such a splendid manner. The book is dedicated Dr Helen D. Megaw, who pioneered so much of our knowledge of the perovskite structure: personally, I feel the author could not have chosen a better person. This is the book that I wish I had written!

So what about the book itself? The first thing that strikes one is the quality of the production. This is a book in which colour has been used to considerable good effect, almost a work of art. It is, put simply, a beautiful book, and the author has obviously worked extremely hard to present his subject in as clear and as eye-catching manner as possible. But I should emphasize that it is not just a matter of presentation that makes this book so worthwhile. Roger Mitchell has in fact produced such a thorough, well researched description of all aspects of the perovskite structure that I believe in will become a classic in this field. It is stuffed full of factual material, lavishly illustrated and informative.

Summarizing then, this book should be read by everyone interested in perovskites.