Price of Salt
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 Price of Salt (Carol)
First published in 1952, "The Price of Salt" is Patricia Highsmith's unprecedented novel concerning the love affair between two women. Highsmith originally published the novel under the pseudonym "Claire Morgan" out of fear that she might be branded as a writer of lesbian literature and out of respect for the characters and occurrences depicted in the novel which referenced her own real life relationships. The story is concerned with the life of Therese Belivet, a young woman living in Manhattan who aspires to be a theatrical set designer. Despite the fact that she is dating a young man named Richard, Therese feels quite lonely as she does not truly love Richard or enjoy their intimacies. By day she works in the toy department at a New York department store. It is there that she meets Carol, an elegant woman in her early thirties, when she waits on her as a customer. The two soon spark up a friendship which eventually develops into a romantic relationship. Noted for being one of the first novels not to depict lesbian relationships in a completely unfavorable light, "The Price of Salt," or "Carol," as it was also published, has been adapted into a 2015 film which received numerous award nominations. This edition is printed in premium acid-free paper.
The Price of Salt
THE PRICE OF SALT (1952) is a romance novel by Patricia Highsmith, written under the pseudonym Claire Morgan. The author - known as a suspense writer following the publication of her previous book, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN - became notorious due to the story's latent lesbian content and happy ending, the latter having been unprecedented in homosexual fiction. THE PRICE OF SALT was an inspiration for Nabokov's LOLITA.
The Price of Salt, or Carol
"A great American writer…Highsmith's writing is wicked…it puts a spell on you." —Entertainment Weekly Patricia Highsmith's story of romantic obsession may be one of the most important, but still largely unrecognized, novels of the twentieth century. First published in 1952 and touted as "the novel of a love that society forbids," the book soon became a cult classic. Based on a true story plucked from Highsmith's own life, The Price of Salt (or Carol) tells the riveting drama of Therese Belivet, a stage designer trapped in a department-store day job, whose routine is forever shattered by a gorgeous epiphany—the appearance of Carol Aird, a customer who comes in to buy her daughter a Christmas toy. Therese begins to gravitate toward the alluring suburban housewife, who is trapped in a marriage as stultifying as Therese's job. They fall in love and set out across the United States, ensnared by society's confines and the imminent disapproval of others, yet propelled by their infatuation. The Price of Salt is a brilliantly written story that may surprise Highsmith fans and will delight those discovering her work.
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith (Book Analysis)
Unlock the more straightforward side of The Price of Salt with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, which traces the burgeoning love affair between the 19-year-old shop clerk Therese Belivet and Carol Aird, a glamourous, alluring older woman who is undergoing an acrimonious divorce. In spite of their apparent differences, the two women are soon unable to deny their attraction to one another, and must fight against the pervasive homophobia that conspires to keep them apart. The Price of Salt was initially published under a pseudonym, before being republished as Carol under Highsmith’s own name. The novel’s happy ending was unprecedented for lesbian fiction at the time, and it inspired an Academy Award-winning film in 2015. Find out everything you need to know about The Price of Salt in a fraction of the time! This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you: • A complete plot summary • Character studies • Key themes and symbols • Questions for further reflection Why choose BrightSummaries.com? Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you on your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!
