  After briefly recapitulating the history of the charm quantum number we
sketch the experimental environments and instruments employed to study the
behaviour of charm hadrons and then describe the theoretical tools for treating
charm dynamics. We discuss a wide range of inclusive production processes
before analyzing the spectroscopy of hadrons with hidden and open charm and the
weak lifetimes of charm mesons and baryons. Then we address leptonic, exclusive
semileptonic and nonleptonic charm decays. Finally we treat $D^0 - \bar D^0$
oscillations and CP (and CPT) violation before concluding with some comments on
charm and the quark-gluon plasma. We will make the case that future studies of
charm dynamics -- in particular of CP violation -- can reveal the presence of
New Physics. The experimental sensitivity has only recently reached a level
where this could reasonably happen, yet only as the result of dedicated
efforts.
  This review is meant to be both a pedagogical introduction for the young
scholar and a useful reference for the experienced researcher. We aim for a
self-contained description of the fundamental features while providing a guide
through the literature for more technical issues.
