  Multivariate extreme-value analysis is concerned with the extremes in a
multivariate random sample, that is, points of which at least some components
have exceptionally large values. Mathematical theory suggests the use of
max-stable models for univariate and multivariate extremes. A comprehensive
account is given of the various ways in which max-stable models are described.
Furthermore, a construction device is proposed for generating parametric
families of max-stable distributions. Although the device is not new, its role
as a model generator seems not yet to have been fully exploited.
