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The instrument

John O'Hara

1967174 pagesabout 3–4 hours
1967
first published
  • 1967Random House · ENG
  • 1967Random House · 297 pages · ENG
  • 1967Random House · 308 pages · ENG
  • 1968Hodder & Stoughton · 297 pages · ENGISBN 9780340029589
  • 1969New English Library · 174 pages · ENGISBN 9780450002748
  • 308 pages

The Instrument is primarily focused on the character of Robert Yancey (Yank) Lucas, a playwright who has just written his first play. He manages to get Broadway to put on his play and in addition, his play catches the attention of Zena Gollum, Broadway's leading actress. Lucas and Zena have a torrid love affair, despite Zena being married. However, even this is not able to make him happy as Lucas struggles to be himself as his play becomes a huge success. Eventually the media and fanfare surrounding him begin to encroach on his freedom. He escapes it all by leaving in the middle of the night and driving to a remote village in Vermont. There he meets up with a variety of women, whom he beds while writing his next play. --mchenryed at Amazon.com.

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