This Norton Critical Edition includes: • The 1952 novel along with—for comparative reading—Patricia Highsmith’s two Afterwords (1984 and 1990). • Editorial matter by Terry Castle. • Background materials on The Price of Salt’s textual history and genesis (1948–52). • An unusually rich Criticism section, thematically arranged to promote classroom discussion. Letters to Patricia Highsmith (1952–65)—never before published—allow today’s readers to understand something of this novel’s deeply personal power, while reviews of the 1952, 1984, and 1991 editions trace the novel’s critical reception in a changing world. Other topics include lesbian pulp fiction, a brief history of lesbianism in the 1950s and Carol, the 2014 film adaptation of The Price of Salt. • A Selected Bibliography.