\[a^{4} - a^{3} + a - 1 =\]
\[= a^{3}(a - 1) + (a - 1) =\]
\[= (a - 1)\left( a^{3} + 1 \right) =\]
\[= (a - 1)(a + 1)\left( a^{1} - a + 1 \right).\]