Amazon Review

C# is so tied to the .NET framework it doesn't make sense to separate the two. This is why Professional C# starts with a thorough discussion of the .NET Framework architecture first.
Similarly, the authors discuss VB.NET and C++ along with the byte code they compile to--Intermediate Language--backward compatibility with COM and comparisons with other languages including Java (not all entirely accurate).

In Professional C# you start at the beginning with types, variables, casting (boxing), scope and other basics followed by flow control: if, switch, while and foreach (from VB). Just about every feature of C# is then discussed and demonstrated along with all the things you might want to do with it in a Windows environment, ending with a long chapter on .NET security. There follows sections for other language programmers moving to C#. It's all rather thorough.

High points include the section on Visual.NET studio, XML, Active Directory and ASP.NET--largely for the way they demonstrate how hard Microsoft has worked to integrate .NET features (of which C# is one). The discussions associated with the practical code samples are also excellent, for example, the one on programming graphics with GDI+ (following the section on forms) which introduces some interesting gotchas.

While completeness is to be applauded Professional C# suffers from dry wordiness and poor subbing common to many multi-authored Wrox programming titles. Despite constantly wishing the text were as tightly written as the code Professional C# is an accessible reference to the language suitable for anyone with an interest in C#. --Steve Patient