The Price of Salt

Highsmith, Patricia. Pen name "Claire Morgan." The Price of Salt. New York: Bantam Books, 1953. Very Early Lesbian pulp. First Edition Mass market paperback. 250 pages, 4.5" x 7." Illustrated front wrapper by cover artist Barye Phillips depicts a pensive woman reclining on a settee, while another woman touches her shoulder and smokes a cigarette. A male figure lurks in the background. Blurb on back wrapper reads, "Here is a novel, utterly sincere and honest, which deals with a subject until recently considered taboo. Now a young woman, Claire Morgan, comes along and writes of unsanctioned love from a completely new point of view." Perhaps best known for her psychological thrillers "Strangers on a Train" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley," author Patricia Highsmith is also credited with having written the first lesbian novel with a happy ending. Prior to this book, most lesbian pulps were framed as ultimately anti-gay morality tales in order to bypass censorship. The Price of Salt broke literary barriers, rising above the normal pulp sleaze of the day to paint a complex portrait of lesbian love. First published in hardcover in 1952 under Highsmith's pen name "Claire Morgan". She dedicated the book to "Edna, Jordy and Jeff"—three people whom Highsmith invented. The novel was later released with Highsmith's own name under the title Carol, and adapted into a film of the same name in 2015. Brightly colored and in very good condition. A well preserved edition of this barrier breaking pulp novel.