Home › Lesbian › The Price of Salt: Or Carol

The Price of Salt: Or Carol

by Patricia Highsmith

Love and choice beyond prescribed roles

Regular price $14.21 USD
Regular price $23.69 USD Sale price $14.21 USD
Save 40%

Paperback New

Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.

Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

AlbakiReads Editorial

Love and choice beyond prescribed roles

Set against the constraints of mid-century social expectations, the novel brings together Therese, a young sales clerk, and Carol, a homemaker navigating a bitter divorce. Their relationship leads them away from familiar routines and onto the open road, where the promise of freedom is complicated by Carol’s responsibilities as a mother. Published in 1952 under a pseudonym, the book examines forbidden love, social pressure and the choices demanded by competing loyalties. Its focus on a romance between two women places it within lesbian fiction, while its central conflict connects private desire to family obligation.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Readers interested in lesbian fiction and LGBTQ+ literary history
  • Those drawn to romantic stories shaped by social constraints and family obligations

Themes

Lesbian loveSocial conformityPersonal freedomFamily responsibility

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

A chance encounter between two lonely women leads to a passionate romance in this lesbian cult classic. Therese, a struggling young sales clerk, and Carol, a homemaker in the midst of a bitter divorce, abandon their oppressive daily routines for the freedom of the open road, where their love can blossom. But their newly discovered bliss is shattered when Carol is forced to choose between her child and her lover.
Author Patricia Highsmith is best known for her psychological thrillers Strangers on a Train and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Originally published in 1952 under a pseudonym, The Price of Salt was heralded as "the novel of a love society forbids." Highsmith's sensitive treatment of fully realized characters who defy stereotypes about homosexuality marks a departure from previous lesbian pulp fiction. Erotic, eloquent, and suspenseful, this story offers an honest look at the necessity of being true to one's nature. The book is also the basis of the acclaimed 2015 film Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara.
Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews