John, the hero of this book, was born in a musical family in Germany. His grandfather and father are musicians. Although his family began to decline, his grandfather did not give up John's education. He wanted to start his own business by educating him when he was very young, and his father began to let John learn music when he was very young. John's musical talent is also amazing, and the songs he hums at will can also be translated into music. 1 1 was invited by the duke to play at home. Since then, he has become a sensation.

When John grew up, his grandfather died, and his father drank all day, so he became a musician of the Duke and took on the responsibility of supporting his family. The education and miserable life he received from childhood also helped John develop a sincere and enthusiastic character, which made him extremely disgusted with all vulgar and hypocritical things. One day, while listening to a concert, he suddenly found that the musician's performance was superficial, the audience was careless, and the music he played sounded more harsh. Therefore, angry John publicly criticized these musicians, which cost him his job as a musician in the Duke's office.

So John went to the bar to drown his sorrows. At this moment, he saw a policeman bullying a girl, and John accidentally killed the policeman. Desperate John had to take refuge in Paris. John who lives in Paris has no friends and is down and out. Finally, John found another job, teaching a rich man's niece Grazia to play the piano. Grazia sympathized with the unfortunate John, and while secretly helping John, she slowly fell in love with this talented man. John devoted himself to artistic creation, and his musicals were very popular in Paris. Just when John was about to reach the peak of his life, an accident happened because he learned that his musical would be played by a vulgar actress, so he angrily refused. This behavior offended many people again, so on the opening day of the musical, the scene was in chaos and John left the room angrily. He lost his old reputation again, even his job as a piano teacher.

By chance, he met the poet Oliver, and they soon became bosom friends, but not long after, Oliver died in a parade, and John killed a policeman by mistake and had to go into exile in Switzerland again. In Switzerland, he was immersed in the pain of his friend's death, and then he met Grazia. They rekindled their love, but they couldn't get married because Grazia's son didn't accept John. As time went by, John got old and Grazia died. At this time, John's mentality became peaceful and tolerant, and everything in the past was like a passing cloud. Finally, he created great works of art and died peacefully.