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The Price of Salt

The Price of Salt book cover
TP
Fiction Romance Classics Historical Fiction

by Patricia Highsmith

starstarstarstar_halfstar
3.93 (16.3K ratings)
calendar_today 1952
description 304 pages

The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith holds a well received rating of 3.93 out of 5, based on 16.3K reader ratings. First published in 1952. The book spans 304 pages.

About The Price of Salt

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, 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. Carol is a brilliantly written story that may surprise Highsmith fans and will delight those discovering her work.This authorized edition includes an afterword by Patricia Highsmith. Previously titled The Price of Salt.

Detail Value
Author Patricia Highsmith
Published 1952
Pages 304
Genres Fiction, Romance, Classics, Historical Fiction
Average Rating 3.93 / 5.00
Total Ratings 16,348

Reader Ratings & Analysis

Rating Overview

3.9
starstarstarstar_halfstar
16.3K ratings
With a rating of 3.93, The Price of Salt is rated below the global average of 4.17. Compared to its genre average of 3.99, it performs on par.

How It Compares

3.93
This Book
3.99
Romance Average
4.17
Global Average

Frequently Asked Questions

What genre is The Price of Salt?

The Price of Salt is categorized as Fiction, Romance, Classics, Historical Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Romance.

Is The Price of Salt worth reading?

Based on 16.3K reader ratings, The Price of Salt has an average score of 3.93 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."

How many pages is The Price of Salt?

The Price of Salt has 304 pages.

Who wrote The Price of Salt?

The Price of Salt was written by Patricia Highsmith. It was first published in 1952.

What is the ISBN for The Price of Salt?

The ISBN-13 for The Price of Salt is 9780393326000.0.

Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026