Isaac Newton (review)

The second title in Krull's Giants of Science series meets, and perhaps even exceeds, expectations set by the debut, Leonardo da Vinci (BCCB 7/05). Krull and Newton are a match made in heaven: she with her flair for capturing the flaws and foibles of the mighty, and he with his razor-sharp mind and abysmal social skills. Chatty, incisive chapters fly by at the speed of a well-crafted novel, as Newton carries out his landmark studies of optics and motion, then scraps with his critics and impounds his own research, lest someone else lay claim to his discoveries. The result, of course, leads to such classic feuds as his set-to with Leibniz over the genesis of calculus, first devised by Newton but first popularized and published by Leibniz. Besides distilling the enduring accomplishments of the great eccentric, Krull also discusses his lesser-known involvement in alchemy, his position as Master of the Mint, and his problematic disagreements with the Church of England. Kulikov again supplies engaging black-and-white artwork that gently caricatures his subject. A bibliography (in which children's works are explicitly denoted), a list of useful websites, and an index are included.