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The Instrument
The central figure of John O'Hara's new novel is Robert Yancey (Yank) Lucas, playwright, a man of talent, wholly dedicated to and driven by his art. The story begins with his conquest of Broadway and presents a vivid picture of the world of the theater seen from the inside--the complicated machinery of producing and launching a major play, with numerous incompatible personalities who must combine to make it succeed.
When the moment of success comes, it does not satisfy Yank Lucas. Years of preparing and self-deprivation have led to this point, but the triumph now seems somehow too easy; the praise and adulation, oppressive. He walks away from his success, and from Zena Gollum, the star of his play who loves and needs him.
His destination is not the little town he accidentally comes to, or any other place, but his next play. In East Hammond, Vermont, surrounded by new people--who do not, however, remain new for long--he writes the new play. When it is finished, so are East Hammond and its inhabitants, but not before many aspects of the complex character of Yank Lucas have become clearer to him and to the reader.
The Instrument is one of John O'Hara's finest novels. The portrayal of Yank Lucas is, in itself, a brilliant achievement, but the reality of this character is the product of his relationships with the great variety of others who are needed to develop the intricate story. In this novel, they cannot properly be called minor, for all have been fashioned with extraordinary skill and economy into full-bodied, memorable individuals.
When the moment of success comes, it does not satisfy Yank Lucas. Years of preparing and self-deprivation have led to this point, but the triumph now seems somehow too easy; the praise and adulation, oppressive. He walks away from his success, and from Zena Gollum, the star of his play who loves and needs him.
His destination is not the little town he accidentally comes to, or any other place, but his next play. In East Hammond, Vermont, surrounded by new people--who do not, however, remain new for long--he writes the new play. When it is finished, so are East Hammond and its inhabitants, but not before many aspects of the complex character of Yank Lucas have become clearer to him and to the reader.
The Instrument is one of John O'Hara's finest novels. The portrayal of Yank Lucas is, in itself, a brilliant achievement, but the reality of this character is the product of his relationships with the great variety of others who are needed to develop the intricate story. In this novel, they cannot properly be called minor, for all have been fashioned with extraordinary skill and economy into full-bodied, memorable individuals.
297 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1967
1 person is currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
John O'Hara
248 books295 followersAmerican writer John Henry O'Hara contributed short stories to the New Yorker and wrote novels, such as
BUtterfield 8
(1935) and
Ten North Frederick
(1955).
Best-selling works of John Henry O'Hara include Appointment in Samarra . People particularly knew him for an uncannily accurate ear for dialogue. O'Hara, a keen observer of social status and class differences, wrote frequently about the socially ambitious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O&#...
Best-selling works of John Henry O'Hara include Appointment in Samarra . People particularly knew him for an uncannily accurate ear for dialogue. O'Hara, a keen observer of social status and class differences, wrote frequently about the socially ambitious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O&#...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 9, 2008
When John O'Hara writes about the world surrounding the legitimate theatre and about Hollywood, the pages come to life. The Instrument is set in the heyday of The New Yorker, the years of the Algonquin Hotel lunch bunch of authors, critics, and comedians/comediennes.
Although I initially suspected that the novel was semi-autobiographical (O'Hara was the son of a doctor in a small Pennsylvania town while the protagonist of this novel was the son of a college professor in a small town in Pennsylvania (Spring Valley).), The Instrument is actually about a playwright rather than a novelist/short story writer (as is O'Hara). O'Hara wrote some plays (five are published in a collection), but his only success on Broadway was a musical adaptation of his Pal Joey, a stage vehicle for Gene Kelly and a screen vehicle for Frank Sinatra. However, O'Hara was known to be difficult to get along with and the protagonist of this novel, Yank Lucas, is accused of being misogynistic when, in truth, he was primarily a misanthrope. O'Hara was known to have a splendid ear for dialogue, as does Lucas. O'Hara was excoriated in some reviews (and banned in more prurient cities and nations) because of his nonchalant and frank discussions of sexuality. The protagonist, who happens to be The Instrument of the title, has a rather mundane and amoral approach to sexuality, as well.
But if you really want to get a perspective on O'Hara, check out his epitaph (which he penned himself) in which he claims to have described his times more honestly than and certainly "Better than all the rest." This undisguised narcissism or prodigious insecurity is a useful foundation for understanding the character in the book, as well as the author. Yank Lucas insists that the doesn't believe in "love." In several conversations, he exults in espousing his philosophy that "love" is a product of "wishful thinking" or "need" and has no empirical existence. He actually sounds more like an "evangelistic atheist" (if you'll pardon the oxymoron) than an authentic commentator on the human condition.
Yet, the strongest element in this novel for me was not only the interweaving of the creative/writing process with personal experience (though certainly, that was interesting), but it was also how far a character could merely toss off moral responsibility for relationships, events, and life choices. No, I didn't really LIKE this character, but I wanted to see how far his discipline and philosophy would take him.
Frankly, this is not a modern "morality play" where all of the injustices and irresponsibilities are wrapped up in a neat bow to teach us how to live. However, it is a precision-crafted observation of the cost to one's own humanity in total self-absorption. Indeed, perhaps "better than all the rest," O'Hara has described the tragedy of his own disappointment with life. In the midst of an artistic success, I cannot help but see the well-lit stage of personal failure. Of course, that's just one reader's impression.
Although I initially suspected that the novel was semi-autobiographical (O'Hara was the son of a doctor in a small Pennsylvania town while the protagonist of this novel was the son of a college professor in a small town in Pennsylvania (Spring Valley).), The Instrument is actually about a playwright rather than a novelist/short story writer (as is O'Hara). O'Hara wrote some plays (five are published in a collection), but his only success on Broadway was a musical adaptation of his Pal Joey, a stage vehicle for Gene Kelly and a screen vehicle for Frank Sinatra. However, O'Hara was known to be difficult to get along with and the protagonist of this novel, Yank Lucas, is accused of being misogynistic when, in truth, he was primarily a misanthrope. O'Hara was known to have a splendid ear for dialogue, as does Lucas. O'Hara was excoriated in some reviews (and banned in more prurient cities and nations) because of his nonchalant and frank discussions of sexuality. The protagonist, who happens to be The Instrument of the title, has a rather mundane and amoral approach to sexuality, as well.
But if you really want to get a perspective on O'Hara, check out his epitaph (which he penned himself) in which he claims to have described his times more honestly than and certainly "Better than all the rest." This undisguised narcissism or prodigious insecurity is a useful foundation for understanding the character in the book, as well as the author. Yank Lucas insists that the doesn't believe in "love." In several conversations, he exults in espousing his philosophy that "love" is a product of "wishful thinking" or "need" and has no empirical existence. He actually sounds more like an "evangelistic atheist" (if you'll pardon the oxymoron) than an authentic commentator on the human condition.
Yet, the strongest element in this novel for me was not only the interweaving of the creative/writing process with personal experience (though certainly, that was interesting), but it was also how far a character could merely toss off moral responsibility for relationships, events, and life choices. No, I didn't really LIKE this character, but I wanted to see how far his discipline and philosophy would take him.
Frankly, this is not a modern "morality play" where all of the injustices and irresponsibilities are wrapped up in a neat bow to teach us how to live. However, it is a precision-crafted observation of the cost to one's own humanity in total self-absorption. Indeed, perhaps "better than all the rest," O'Hara has described the tragedy of his own disappointment with life. In the midst of an artistic success, I cannot help but see the well-lit stage of personal failure. Of course, that's just one reader's impression.
June 6, 2009
This novel fit well into my collection of novels about narcissistic personality disorder. O'Hara writes halfway between prose and script. I like it, but be warned it will seem dry if you are not an active reader--O'Hara doesn't fill in the emotions for you.
June 25, 2024
I have a bunch of O'Hara's book but haven't read a one - so far. This one has the virtue of being pretty short, though it was published in the 60's, near the end for Mr. O'Hara and may not be among his best. Some of the Goodreads reviews are pretty negative. We'll see...
My copy is a good-shape 1967 hardbound edition published by Random House. The author died a few years after its publication. No dust cover.
Moving on to the end now after Yank has bounced around a bit while fleeing the distractions of NYC and fame. I'm not terribly enthralled by what I've read so far. This is a story about a talented young playwright, but he hasn't said much of interest to me so far. Dialogue dominates the text. One might call the thing a "plovel" or a "novlay" and the action consists mostly of Yank bouncing from one smitten female to another. He's not so much in love with love as they are. His motto might be(as my father once told me): "fuck 'em and forget 'em". What O'Hara has in mind is not clear to me, but there's enough page "time" for him to spell it out. A portrait of narcissism? Other reviewers have deployed the "n" word.
- Much of the dialogue sounds dated. One can imagine Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant yakking at each other... Myrna Loy and William Powell... Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis... sophisticated and ICKY. Did people EVER talk this way?
Finished last night as Yank learns of another victim of his self-involvement. I was wondering if that(no spoilers!) would happen, and it did. Then he's off to California to pursue his solitary, loveless, sex-filled pseudo-life. Is this book a portrait of someone specific? Could very well be but I have no clue. This story was reasonably well presented in its somewhat stilted, unrealistic prose, but what it was about was of little interest to me.
- Did Yale ever play Vermont in football? Yes they did!
- 3.25* rounds down to 3*
My copy is a good-shape 1967 hardbound edition published by Random House. The author died a few years after its publication. No dust cover.
Moving on to the end now after Yank has bounced around a bit while fleeing the distractions of NYC and fame. I'm not terribly enthralled by what I've read so far. This is a story about a talented young playwright, but he hasn't said much of interest to me so far. Dialogue dominates the text. One might call the thing a "plovel" or a "novlay" and the action consists mostly of Yank bouncing from one smitten female to another. He's not so much in love with love as they are. His motto might be(as my father once told me): "fuck 'em and forget 'em". What O'Hara has in mind is not clear to me, but there's enough page "time" for him to spell it out. A portrait of narcissism? Other reviewers have deployed the "n" word.
- Much of the dialogue sounds dated. One can imagine Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant yakking at each other... Myrna Loy and William Powell... Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis... sophisticated and ICKY. Did people EVER talk this way?
Finished last night as Yank learns of another victim of his self-involvement. I was wondering if that(no spoilers!) would happen, and it did. Then he's off to California to pursue his solitary, loveless, sex-filled pseudo-life. Is this book a portrait of someone specific? Could very well be but I have no clue. This story was reasonably well presented in its somewhat stilted, unrealistic prose, but what it was about was of little interest to me.
- Did Yale ever play Vermont in football? Yes they did!
- 3.25* rounds down to 3*
July 9, 2015
Sex sells war der literarische Leitsatz der Sechziger, in Sachen Quantizität erreicht sogar John O'Hara eine für seine Verhältnisse ungewöhnliche Dichte derartiger Szenen im Verhältnis zum Umfang.
Die Akte selbst sind, wie schon zu Zeiten von BUtterfield8 kein Gegenstand der Beschreibung, allenfalls die anschließende Reaktion auf zu wenig Euphorie bzw. die Besprechung des emotionalen Aufwands.
Gerade im ländlichen zweiten und dritten Teil sind die Beschreibungen der Personen sehr lebhaft, im ersten Teil, der in der Theaterwelt spielt, leistet der schnoddrige und oft ziemlich aggressive Dialog die Hauptarbeit.
O'Hara bleibt bei diesem wohl in den Fünfzigern angesiedelten Roman, so weit auf seiner Linie, was die horizontale Seite der Liebe angeht, leistet im Spätwerk aber nicht aber nicht mehr solche Aussetzer wie in Butterfield 8 oder Treffpunkt Samarra. Verbindungshäuser und lüsterne Professoren/Lehrer gehören, wie jedes mal dazu. Dafür spielt der Alkohol spielt keine prominente Rolle mehr, es gibt null Katerprosa, auch sonst keine echten Ärgernisse im Roman über einen gefühlskalten Bastard, der die Frauen in seinem Leben und ihre Unglücke zu Broadwayknüllern verwurstet, ehe er zum nächsten neuen Umfeld weiter zieht, um selbiges abzugrasen.
Der Schluss kommt, wie jedes mal, ziemlich abrupt, dieses mal bleibt der Mann am Leben, damit steht es in meiner internen Todesbilanz der Helden 2:2.
Die Akte selbst sind, wie schon zu Zeiten von BUtterfield8 kein Gegenstand der Beschreibung, allenfalls die anschließende Reaktion auf zu wenig Euphorie bzw. die Besprechung des emotionalen Aufwands.
Gerade im ländlichen zweiten und dritten Teil sind die Beschreibungen der Personen sehr lebhaft, im ersten Teil, der in der Theaterwelt spielt, leistet der schnoddrige und oft ziemlich aggressive Dialog die Hauptarbeit.
O'Hara bleibt bei diesem wohl in den Fünfzigern angesiedelten Roman, so weit auf seiner Linie, was die horizontale Seite der Liebe angeht, leistet im Spätwerk aber nicht aber nicht mehr solche Aussetzer wie in Butterfield 8 oder Treffpunkt Samarra. Verbindungshäuser und lüsterne Professoren/Lehrer gehören, wie jedes mal dazu. Dafür spielt der Alkohol spielt keine prominente Rolle mehr, es gibt null Katerprosa, auch sonst keine echten Ärgernisse im Roman über einen gefühlskalten Bastard, der die Frauen in seinem Leben und ihre Unglücke zu Broadwayknüllern verwurstet, ehe er zum nächsten neuen Umfeld weiter zieht, um selbiges abzugrasen.
Der Schluss kommt, wie jedes mal, ziemlich abrupt, dieses mal bleibt der Mann am Leben, damit steht es in meiner internen Todesbilanz der Helden 2:2.
Read
January 24, 2018Among the worst novels I have ever read. Utterly implausible. No empathy for any major character and only scattered moments at which the supporting characters achieve a moment of benevolence. I inherited O’Hara from an old friend who died eight years ago and left me all his books. O’Hara was convinced, to the point of engraving on his tombstone “Better than anyone else...”, that he was God’s gift to fiction. Sorry. No.
December 11, 2021
I found this book to be masterfully written. It kept me engrossed and I could hardly put it down. There were many parts of the story that I didn't like, but that was because of the lead character, Yank Lucas and his proclivities, not because of the writing, per se.
I enjoyed all of the relationships that Yank had and his introspection that made him what he was. A gifted writer who produced the most wonderful play, yet as a reader we never really had much of an idea what the play was about. The story is about Yank's struggle with life, his inability to love and his restlessness. He has some wonderful relationships, such as with his agent, Peg McInerney. Yank is generous, but also manipulative. I kept trying to figure him out, but in the real world I had never known anyone remotely like him, which was one of the reasons I kept reading this book.
Obviously this book has not pleased everyone, but I think that must be because they are simply casual readers. I am a devoted reader and I think that is the reason I found this book so refreshing. The story was truly different and very intriguing.
I enjoyed all of the relationships that Yank had and his introspection that made him what he was. A gifted writer who produced the most wonderful play, yet as a reader we never really had much of an idea what the play was about. The story is about Yank's struggle with life, his inability to love and his restlessness. He has some wonderful relationships, such as with his agent, Peg McInerney. Yank is generous, but also manipulative. I kept trying to figure him out, but in the real world I had never known anyone remotely like him, which was one of the reasons I kept reading this book.
Obviously this book has not pleased everyone, but I think that must be because they are simply casual readers. I am a devoted reader and I think that is the reason I found this book so refreshing. The story was truly different and very intriguing.
June 27, 2017
This book contains some delightful dialogues that would light up the silver screen, but I think it would be a difficult book to tranlate into video, as its essence is inside the protagonist's mind. In as much as he is something of a mirror held up to life, he gives us glimpses into various individuals who help to make big city New York and rural Vermont what they are, or at least the better side of them, for the most part. And despite all the good intentions, there is no shortage of tragedy, however. And what stopped me rating this book higher is the chief protagonist's refusal to accept his own share of the responsibility for the outcomes. As any reporter knows, although there only to record them, merely by participating in events we end up altering them.
However, the ending left an opening for a new start. The question is whether it would be with a new attitude or more of the same predatory searching for material. I would be interested to see how the author would handle that.
However, the ending left an opening for a new start. The question is whether it would be with a new attitude or more of the same predatory searching for material. I would be interested to see how the author would handle that.
February 6, 2022
Another of the novels found during a friend's renovation. Copyrighted in 1967. Yank Lucas is a playwright. The time period is probably the 50's. Yank is a user. He uses the people in his vicinity as his characters. I say vicinity as Yank doesn't have a life. He plans everything out down to the woman he will use for his needs until he moves on. The language is coarse, crude and vulgar. He is The Instrument used to bring the characters to the play which actually is his and their connection in life. I did not particularly enjoy this read.
June 16, 2022
The celebrated author of acclaimed novels, including Ten North Frederick, Pal Joey, and Butterfield 8 (all made into Hollywood films) was so prolific that he can be forgiven for a few clinkers. This is one of them. Like his others, this has plenty of alcohol and sex, a formula for success that survived his somewhat daring usage starting in the 1930s and continuing for four decades. But it ain't a page turner like some of his others. I could tolerate that if this were a short story in the iconic style that he pioneered for The New Yorker Magazine. But it runs to 300 pages.
March 14, 2020
Interesting story about what it means to be a writer, and how your life experiences (including accidents) and the people you meet along the way can make or break your work.
May 4, 2021
I always like O’Hara’s books, but I always walk away from them muttering to myself about what a giant boil on the butt of humanity he must have been in real life.
June 27, 2024
An unfortunate sign of the times in some ways but an absolutely interesting read
May 21, 2022
Grouchy, glib, dated, misogynistic bullshit. Now I need to reread Butterfield 8 and Appointment in Samarra, which I liked, and see if I massively missed some awfulness or if he got crotchety and grim with his later writings. This seriously needs to be buried and never resurrected
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December 8, 2023This is one of the final novels from John O'Hara, most famous for BUtterfield 8, North Frederick 10, and his first novel Appointment at Samarra. I have previously read that first novel, which is really good, published in 1929, and his collected stories, which are a mixed bag.
This novel is from 1967, and more or less takes place at the same time, though at times this is hard to pin down for two reasons. One, there's almost zero references to time in this whole novel--no news, no cultural references to speak of mostly--and two, the writing feels out of date and not up to the task of accounting for the 1960s. That's not to say that the writing is bad (though at times it is) or always out of date, but it's not always capable of asking its own questions it feels. Only the reference to a character buying a Ferrari, do we get any kind of meaningful timestamp, though still a little vague.
The novel begins with the neighbor of our protagonist walking into his apartment building, smelling gas, and bursting into Yank Lucas's (our guy) gas-filled apartment and finding him passed out on the floor. He turns off the gas, opens the windows, and revives. We come to understand that this was not a suicide attempt. Instead, he fell asleep making pasta (it was late) and the water boiled over and doused the flame, and the gas ensued. But we also understand that it was suicide adjacent, because his carelessness was part some kind of chaotic emotional time in his life. The event spurs him to complete writing a play, get it sold, and begin production (the maybe suicide is central to the play's plot). From here, he becomes a bit of a star in and out of NYC, and the fame, the exhaustion, and the original struggles overburdens him and he tries his hand living in upstate NY. He finds upstate is also a mixed bag.
The novel feels like a writer circling the end of his career (and as it turns out life) by re-exploring a writing career at a young age. O'Hara was also a huge success out of the gate like Lucas, but it was a different time, and this novel perhaps re-inscribes that life onto a new decade. It's middling at times, and only good in spurts.
This novel is from 1967, and more or less takes place at the same time, though at times this is hard to pin down for two reasons. One, there's almost zero references to time in this whole novel--no news, no cultural references to speak of mostly--and two, the writing feels out of date and not up to the task of accounting for the 1960s. That's not to say that the writing is bad (though at times it is) or always out of date, but it's not always capable of asking its own questions it feels. Only the reference to a character buying a Ferrari, do we get any kind of meaningful timestamp, though still a little vague.
The novel begins with the neighbor of our protagonist walking into his apartment building, smelling gas, and bursting into Yank Lucas's (our guy) gas-filled apartment and finding him passed out on the floor. He turns off the gas, opens the windows, and revives. We come to understand that this was not a suicide attempt. Instead, he fell asleep making pasta (it was late) and the water boiled over and doused the flame, and the gas ensued. But we also understand that it was suicide adjacent, because his carelessness was part some kind of chaotic emotional time in his life. The event spurs him to complete writing a play, get it sold, and begin production (the maybe suicide is central to the play's plot). From here, he becomes a bit of a star in and out of NYC, and the fame, the exhaustion, and the original struggles overburdens him and he tries his hand living in upstate NY. He finds upstate is also a mixed bag.
The novel feels like a writer circling the end of his career (and as it turns out life) by re-exploring a writing career at a young age. O'Hara was also a huge success out of the gate like Lucas, but it was a different time, and this novel perhaps re-inscribes that life onto a new decade. It's middling at times, and only good in spurts.
August 31, 2012
I've got about 547 books stacked in my bedroom to read. I'm just reading through them. Only the most pitifully unreadable go back out immediately. So I'm reading O'Hara's The Instrument. I always like books about writers, so to some extent Yank the Playwright is good. I do not ever like reading sex scenes...they are all wrong, in my opinion. Altho there has been one funny sex joke so far (I'm halfway through.)
This is not one of O'Hara's best, but it's rather transparent in construction, which is probably why I'm sticking with it. Trying to gear up to finish my first NANOWRIMO novel, and be ready to do another in November.
This is not one of O'Hara's best, but it's rather transparent in construction, which is probably why I'm sticking with it. Trying to gear up to finish my first NANOWRIMO novel, and be ready to do another in November.
February 6, 2017
Finally finished the book!
The first half of the book was really hard to read to me,because i did not like it at all. There was so much going on ,but was it fo real ? I was suffering reading it, but I wanted to finish. So glad I did,because the other half was much better. I still hated the main character,maybe even more,but the writing or story was better. Oh,and i really LOVED the ending, maybe I shouldn´t ,but it fit so great.
The first half of the book was really hard to read to me,because i did not like it at all. There was so much going on ,but was it fo real ? I was suffering reading it, but I wanted to finish. So glad I did,because the other half was much better. I still hated the main character,maybe even more,but the writing or story was better. Oh,and i really LOVED the ending, maybe I shouldn´t ,but it fit so great.
July 21, 2024
The first chapter was interesting: struggling writer hoping to get a break with his play. But it almost broke me!
The second chapter: Award winning playwright heads for the hills; as far as he can get away from NYC. He's writing another play which has a lot of promise. This chapter kept my attention because he's truly upset by a fatal car crash.
And the third chapter: Award winning playwright needs inspiration for a third play so he heads west, young man.
The second chapter: Award winning playwright heads for the hills; as far as he can get away from NYC. He's writing another play which has a lot of promise. This chapter kept my attention because he's truly upset by a fatal car crash.
And the third chapter: Award winning playwright needs inspiration for a third play so he heads west, young man.
January 6, 2010
jiggs muldowney! what more can i say.
i liked the story. It was a short quick one detailing the rise of a playwright in NYC and then follows him
as he escapes to Vermont and mixes it up in a small town. Feels like a short story-could have developed more I think.
Still enjoyable.
i liked the story. It was a short quick one detailing the rise of a playwright in NYC and then follows him
as he escapes to Vermont and mixes it up in a small town. Feels like a short story-could have developed more I think.
Still enjoyable.
July 29, 2016
I read this in English. The main character, a playwright, is not a likable person. I hated the way women are portrayed and treated in this novel also. It was well-written, but I doubt I'll read any more of his books. I encounter enough misogyny in my own life without having to read it.
July 9, 2009
Weakest O'Hara I've encountered (and I think his last), but I am so in love with the voice I don't mind it much when it rambles.
Want to read
December 29, 2009Want hc edition with DJ. Lack of a DJ leaves one with no clue.
May 19, 2014
Nancy the Snatch. Yes.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews