TITLE: Learning About Schubert Varieties
QUESTION [15 upvotes]: I am a combinatorist by training and I am interested in learning about the connections between combinatorics and Schubert varieties.   The theory of Schubert varieties seems to be a difficult area to break into if one has not already studied it in graduate school.  I don't have a formal course in Algebraic Geometry, but I do know some Commutative Algebra.  Does anyone have any recommendations on what Algebraic Geometry one needs to understand (and what books/papers one should read) in order to begin studying Schubert varieties?  Algebraic Geometry is such a huge subject that I am trying to figure out what is essential to this particular study and what is not.   Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions!

REPLY [6 votes]: Another reference I've heard suggested before is these notes by Brion:
Lectures on the geometry of flag varieties