Isaac Newton was not only briiliant, but secretive, vindictive and obsessive. Here is a portrait of the man, contradictions and all, than places him against the backdrop of seventeenth-century England, a time of plague, the Great Fire of London, and two revolutions.

All alone -- The great escape -- A new world -- The apple -- Newton versus Hooke -- Newton versus Leibniz -- Newton versus Flamsteed -- The greatest science book in the world -- Newton versus Newton -- And what about alchemy? -- The crimson years -- His impact.