Herman Bang (1857-1912) does not need to be rediscovered; on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death, several works are available in new translations. However, the artist novel "Michael" from 1904, which was already available in German translation the following year, has not been reissued for eight decades. "Michael" is Herman Bang's most personal work; in it, he processed the great disappointments of love in his life. The successful painter Claude Zoret must witness how Eugène Michael, his favorite model ("The Victor"), his adopted son and lover, withdraws from him and flees into the arms of a woman. The bitter realization of having succeeded in art but failed in life leads the artist to his final masterpieces ("Painter of Pain"), while the man Claude Zoret succumbs to resignation and death. The novel was adapted into film twice during the silent film era. Mauritz Stiller created one of the adaptations.