The contributions in this volume represent a selection of the papers presented at the Conference on Extreme Value Theory and Applications held in Gaithersburg, Maryland in 1993. Recent rapid advancement in the theory of extremes, in the statistical inference of extreme-related problems and the ever-increasing acceptance of the theory in applications brought together the leading experts in the fields of model building statistics, engineering and business, whose authoritative presentations on these matters are published in this volume. A variety of engineering applications are covered: strength due to fatigue failure, bundle strength of fibre, longest living humans, concomitants of extremes such as characteristics of offspring of the present generation, long-run asset risk, reinsurance, high winds, and other applications. The theoreticians address model building and the newest results of statistical inference, including Bayesian methods. This is the first such mix of the theory and applications of extremes to be published. For statisticians, mathematicians, engineers and business professionals with a basic knowledge of probability and statistics.