--- product_id: 16886576 title: "The Price of Salt, or Carol" price: "R702" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/16886576-the-price-of-salt-or-carol store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # The Price of Salt, or Carol **Price:** R702 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Price of Salt, or Carol - **How much does it cost?** R702 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/16886576-the-price-of-salt-or-carol) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description "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. Review: The Price of Salt.... - This book is getting a lot of attention since the movie came out and I decided to read it before seeing the film. Patricia Highsmith is an amazing author, as some of her other books will attest to. Originally published in 1952 as The Price of Salt, its about two women who meet, fall in love, and while traveling cross country together realize what this might cost them, especially Carol. Carol is married and has a young daughter. In the midst of a divorce her husband has them followed while they travel, a detective gathering information that can be used against Carol in a custody battle. Carol, though in love with Terry, has everything to lose, he daughter being the most important. Therese is a 19 year old woman working in a department store toy department at Christmas time when Carol comes in to buy a doll as a gift for her daughter. Therese is immediately enraptured by the older, wealthy woman and a friendship then love affair begin. Therese is dating Richard whom she knows she doesn't love and is in the process of breaking away from. Because this is the 1950s same sex relationships weren't looked upon with the same openness they are now (or so I would have believed pre Kim Davis and the rest of the states passing anti LGBT legislation). In any case, Richard looks upon Therese with disgust after finding out about her and Carol, and Carol's husband is quick to use her relationship with Therese as a weapon. Lesbianism, though important to the story isn't really the entire story. Its a love story, two people meet, fall in love and have to deal with the consequences of that relationship. Though in the end we're treated to the possibility of a happy ending we see there is a price to pay for that happiness. Whether same sex or opposite sex, a lot of relationships come with consequences, and Carol and Therese are no exceptions. what they show though is an amazing strength to come out at a time when it was frowned upon. This book reminded of Payton Place. That book dealt with sex and such taboo topics as abortion and shocked America when it came out. I'm sure this book was also shocking in its own way. Review: "Why did people talk of heaven, she wondered" - This book had me captured from start to finish. It was an absolute melodramatic lesbian mess in all the best ways. This is a gritty noir romance of two women trapped in a patriarcical understanding of what love and friendship mean. Carol's aloof attitude is felt as strongly as if you were Therese. I was transported back to my angsty teenage lovey dovey ways in a way I never thought I could enjoy, yet I thoroughly enjoyed this book to the end. Also, the movie is fantastic! A warning, however, that there are a few minor grammatical and formatting errors in the Kindle edition. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #99,286 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #35 in LGBTQ+ Classic Fiction #255 in LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction (Books) #438 in Literary Criticism & Theory | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 881 Reviews | ## Images ![The Price of Salt, or Carol - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71dY3i1zisL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Price of Salt.... *by J***N on April 7, 2016* This book is getting a lot of attention since the movie came out and I decided to read it before seeing the film. Patricia Highsmith is an amazing author, as some of her other books will attest to. Originally published in 1952 as The Price of Salt, its about two women who meet, fall in love, and while traveling cross country together realize what this might cost them, especially Carol. Carol is married and has a young daughter. In the midst of a divorce her husband has them followed while they travel, a detective gathering information that can be used against Carol in a custody battle. Carol, though in love with Terry, has everything to lose, he daughter being the most important. Therese is a 19 year old woman working in a department store toy department at Christmas time when Carol comes in to buy a doll as a gift for her daughter. Therese is immediately enraptured by the older, wealthy woman and a friendship then love affair begin. Therese is dating Richard whom she knows she doesn't love and is in the process of breaking away from. Because this is the 1950s same sex relationships weren't looked upon with the same openness they are now (or so I would have believed pre Kim Davis and the rest of the states passing anti LGBT legislation). In any case, Richard looks upon Therese with disgust after finding out about her and Carol, and Carol's husband is quick to use her relationship with Therese as a weapon. Lesbianism, though important to the story isn't really the entire story. Its a love story, two people meet, fall in love and have to deal with the consequences of that relationship. Though in the end we're treated to the possibility of a happy ending we see there is a price to pay for that happiness. Whether same sex or opposite sex, a lot of relationships come with consequences, and Carol and Therese are no exceptions. what they show though is an amazing strength to come out at a time when it was frowned upon. This book reminded of Payton Place. That book dealt with sex and such taboo topics as abortion and shocked America when it came out. I'm sure this book was also shocking in its own way. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Why did people talk of heaven, she wondered" *by K***R on February 19, 2020* This book had me captured from start to finish. It was an absolute melodramatic lesbian mess in all the best ways. This is a gritty noir romance of two women trapped in a patriarcical understanding of what love and friendship mean. Carol's aloof attitude is felt as strongly as if you were Therese. I was transported back to my angsty teenage lovey dovey ways in a way I never thought I could enjoy, yet I thoroughly enjoyed this book to the end. Also, the movie is fantastic! A warning, however, that there are a few minor grammatical and formatting errors in the Kindle edition. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Glad that I found this book, excellent story *by B***R on February 22, 2012* I had just read a review in the NYTimes book review of a biography of Patricia Highsmith and the Price of Salt was mentioned as being somewhat of a story about herself. I purchased the book without any prior knowledge of the story or the author and was surprised, after reading the book, at the author's afterword. It really brought the story together and gave it meaning. It was story of a compulsiveness that was all consuming. I wish that the story did not end as there certainly was a lot more to say. It was written without any descriptive adjectives of the romantic encounters and left all details to the imagination. Well done ! It was a little slow developing, but the ending was superb. I particularly enjoyed the fashion in which the period was described, the subtleties of the characters involvement with each other, the boy friend who had difficulty coming to terms with Carol and Theresa's relationship, the kindly mother who tried to be a friend to Carol, and the husband of Carol who was out to be as cruel as possible to his wife. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more books by Patricia Highsmith. I am particularly interested in a biography, if one becames available. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Price of Salt, or Carol - The Talented Mr. Ripley --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/16886576-the-price-of-salt-or-carol](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/16886576-the-price-of-salt-or-carol) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-09-20*