Here are the life stories of nine famous people who have left their mark upon the world. There are men of action such as Alexander the Great and George Washington, and a woman, Joan of Arc, who inspired a nation. There are scientists whose voyages of discovery took place in laboratories - Isaac Newton Louis Pasteur and Marie Curie. Imagination is the fuel of the artist. The paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven, though centuries old, still affect us today. And finally, there is the story of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who gained freedom for his country while at the same time promoting the idea of peace and non-violence.

These men and women were important in their time and, even in our computer age, show what individuals, with ideals and energy, can achieve.