Discoloration on book jacket Pages yellowing with age Random House, 1967 - book club edition - 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.