Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt to be Adapted for Film

Romantic suspense novelist Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel The Price of Salt is being adapted for film, with Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska set to star.

Published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan, the story is centered on two women in early 1950s New York City. Therese is 19-years-old and working in a department store during the Christmas shopping season. She dates men, although not with real enthusiasm. One day a beautiful older woman comes over to her counter and buys a doll. As the purchase is a C.O.D. order, Therese makes a mental note of the customer's address. She is intrigued and drawn to the woman. Although young, inexperienced and shy, she writes a note to the customer, Carol, and is elated and surprised when Carol invites her to meet.

Therese realizes she has strong feelings for Carol, but is unsure of what they represent. Carol, in the process of a bitter separation and divorce, is also quite lonely. Soon the two women begin spending a great deal of time together. Before long, they are madly and hopelessly in love. The path is not easy for them, however. Carol also has a child and a very suspicious husband — dangerous ground for the lovers. When the women leave New York and travel west together, they discover the choices they've made to be together will have lasting effects on both their lives.