Super Short Summary

Annus Mirabilis by Sally Ball explores the narratives of Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, the rival inventors of calculus, intertwining their stories with Ball's reflections on the human impulse to acquire knowledge and its attendant pains. The poems delve into themes of scientific discovery, personal struggle, and the philosophical nature of knowledge, weaving a complex tapestry of curiosity and suffering. Sensitive themes of orphanhood, isolation, and existential strife appear throughout the work.