A few days I finished working on my fourth volume in the Adolf in AI series.

This section chronicles a formative and turbulent chapter defined by ambition, rejection, and gradual transformation. Beginning in July 1908, the narrative follows a young man driven by artistic dreams yet repeatedly confronted with failure, most notably in his attempts to gain acceptance into the Vienna Academy. What unfolds is a deeply personal account of disillusionment of both pride clashing with reality, and the slow erosion of earlier ideals.

Set against the backdrop of Vienna’s bustling streets and later the quieter rhythms of Munich, the series captures the stark contrast between aspiration and survival. Financial hardship, isolation, and exposure to new political and social ideas begin to shape a more rigid worldview. Moments of introspection are interwoven with observations of city life, revealing both fascination and growing resentment.

By the time the story reaches the move to Munich in 1913, the tone has shifted. What began as a pursuit of art has evolved into something more uncertain and foreboding. The series ends on the edge of change…hinting at a departure not only in geography, but in identity, purpose, and direction.