'Genius' Summary

Eugene Witla, a young man from a small town in Illinois, moves to Chicago to pursue his passion for painting. He quickly immerses himself in the city's artistic and social scene, encountering a world of new experiences and opportunities. He finds early success, but his personal life is fraught with complications. He falls in love with Angela Blue, a woman from a more traditional background, but his own inherent restlessness and a lack of emotional restraint make him incapable of sustained commitment. Their marriage, though initially passionate, becomes strained by his constant infidelities and his inability to conform to societal expectations. Witla's artistic success is accompanied by a series of personal crises, culminating in a nervous breakdown. As he navigates the complexities of his artistic career, his relationships, and his own internal struggles, he grapples with themes of artistic ambition, social constraints, and the elusive nature of happiness. *The Genius* follows Witla's trajectory through the tumultuous years of the early 20th century, a period of social upheaval and cultural change that mirrors the internal struggles of its protagonist.