"Die Räuberbande" by Leonhard Frank is a novel first published in 1914. It follows Michael Vierkant, a rebellious youth in late 19th-century Würzburg who belongs to a gang of young apprentices inspired by adventure novels. The boys dream of freedom and rebellion against oppressive authority figures. As the gang dissolves, Michael breaks from his working-class roots to pursue art in Munich. His journey toward becoming an artist leads him through bohemian circles, personal conflicts, and ultimately a devastating intrigue that threatens everything he has achieved.