The price of salt by Patricia Highsmith is a groundbreaking novel published under Claire Morgan in 1952. The story follows a young aspirational platform designer Theresi Belivate working in a department store, which meets an elegant and mysterious woman Carol Aircraft under a difficult divorce. A chance begins as an encounter, quickly develops in an acute, emotionally charged love affair that challenges social norms and personal boundaries. Unlike most gay novels of its time, the price of salt suggests a conference of tragic end. Instead, it provides a subtle but powerful story of courage to carry forward self-addiction, longing and authentic love. With accurate prose and psychological insight, Wismith made a compelling exploration of desire, freedom and identity in the US in the middle of the 20th century. Today, the novel has been honored as a classic of LGBTQ+ literature and is a poignant and brave illustration that is of love against obstacles.
