One of a rare set of monographs on the nonlinear theory of elasticity, this book is essential reading for students and academicians alike. In fact, as the Bulletin of the A. M. S. noted, "Students of mechanics will be grateful to the publishers for making available the second of the three existing monographs on the general theory of elasticity. " Translated from the first (1948) Russian edition, this penetrating volume is based on a series of lectures given by the author at Leningrad National University. In addition to discussion of the theory (that contains no assumptions restricting the magnitude of elongations, displacements, or angles of rotation), the author proceeds with a general examination of the connection between stresses and strains in an isotropic elastic body. Topics include the geometry of strain, equilibrium of a volume element, strain energy, boundary conditions, stress-strain law, formulation of elastic problems in terms of stresses, problems of elastic stability, deformation of elastic bodies, and more. In an effort to make the text accessible to the widest audience, all deductions are carried out in the simplest and most intuitive manner, avoiding tensor calculus and its complex symbolism.