Chapter 4

Summary

• Stéphane Guillaume Frédéric Breitwieser was introduced to his passion for pottery shards, tile fragments, and arrowheads during childhood expeditions to medieval ruins with his grandfather.
• His grandfather sparked his fascination in the field, leading him to collect and store his finds in a blue plastic box at home.
• Breitwieser was a socially awkward and anxious individual with a deep love for antiques and an aversion to modern tendencies like digital entertainment and increased connectivity.
• His father was a stern and demanding figure, pushing him to tough physical jobs which he abhorred, adding to his rebellious nature and amplifying tension within the family.
• The tension culminated in his parents' divorce when he finished high school; his father took all the antique collections from the house, leaving Breitwieser with a sense of abandonment.
• Breitwieser grew increasingly delinquent, indulging in shoplifting, and having aggressive encounters with police officers leading to arrests and therapy.
• He battled depression, lack of a stable job, and a longing for antique items—stealing an ancient belt buckle from the Mulhouse History Museum where he briefly worked as a security guard.
• Despite his overall discontentment with society and people, Breitwieser fell in love with a girl, marking an unexpected twist in his solitary and troubled life.