Buy new:
$26.87
$3 delivery 14 - 22 May. Details
In stock
$$26.87 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$26.87
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Delivery cost, delivery date and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Rarewaves UK
Ships from
Rarewaves UK
Sold by
Rarewaves UK
Sold by
Rarewaves UK
Returns
Eligible for change of mind returns within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for change of mind returns within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition within 30 days of receipt for change of mind. However, if your item is damaged or defective, you may be entitled to a remedy after 30 days. Contact the seller or visit Third-Party Seller Returns to learn more.
Read our returns policies
Returns
Eligible for change of mind returns within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition within 30 days of receipt for change of mind. However, if your item is damaged or defective, you may be entitled to a remedy after 30 days. Contact the seller or visit Third-Party Seller Returns to learn more.
Read our returns policies
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
New (18) from
$26.87  + $3.00 Delivery
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer—no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

Patricia Highsmith
Follow
Claire Morgan
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Carol Paperback – 21 July 2010

by Patricia Highsmith (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 7,030
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$26.87","priceAmount":26.87,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"26","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"87","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"NjSHzmKZI6kPYiDrnfqOje0lJv7jcPe0l4QOceNgMfWDNC3bvQ1bD2CdPVP8bYctX%2BI7Dk8BlAeVjCf6Ec1ttx5myJIJzRGNWwqhN32Z97TN%2B1e5FUVYn1L%2B%2Fx6WAYQbAtJQ1jFKNkBqeoT08XtS2OYOgCCOOOO5L2ZlU0Ck8DuVKSnHUPW%2F%2B1ZUNNCkMY30","locale":"en-AU","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A love story of consummate tenderness, from the creator of Tom Ripley.

Therese first glimpses Carol in the New York department store where she is working as a sales assistant. Carol is choosing a present for her daughter; she looks preoccupied, exuding an aura of elegance as perfect as a secret. Standing there at the counter, Therese suddenly feels wholly innocent - wholly unprepared for the first shock of love.
Therese was nineteen, and loved by a young man she cared about, but could not desire. Carol was a sophisticated married woman. Now Therese seemed to have no other purpose to her life other than their meeting?
First published under a pseudonym in 1952, Carol is a love story told with compelling wit and eroticism, and consummate tenderness.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury Pb
  4. Publication date
    21 July 2010
  5. Dimensions
    12.9 x 2 x 19.8 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1408808978
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1408808979
  8. See all details
Next page

Frequently bought together

Carol
$26.87
Get it 14 - 22 May
In stock
Ships from and sold by Rarewaves UK.
+
The Talented Mr Ripley: The thrilling crime classic The Talented Mr Ripley, now a major Netflix series
$14.00
In stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon AU.
+
Strangers on a Train
$19.40
Get it 14 - 22 May
In stock
Ships from and sold by Rarewaves UK.
Total Price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
These items are dispatched from and sold by different sellers.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Product description

Review

'Has the drive of a thriller but the imagery of a romance ... This is a book that is hard to set aside; it demands to be read late into the night with eyes burning and heart racing' Val McDermid 'A document of persecuted love ... perfect' Independent 'Gently exploratory, genuinely moving' Mail on Sunday 'An original, honest novel, a remarkable imaginative achievement by any standard ... compelling' Financial Times

Book Description

A love story of consummate tenderness, from the creator of Tom Ripley.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury Pb; 1st edition (21 July 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1408808978
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1408808979
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 2 x 19.8 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 7,030

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. Patricia Highsmith

    Patricia Highsmith

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995) was the author of more than twenty novels, including Strangers on a Train, The Price of Salt and The Talented Mr. Ripley, as well as numerous short stories.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Claire Morgan

    Claire Morgan

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs, and more

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
7,030 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review
Deep scratch marks
2 Stars
Deep scratch marks
The hardcover edition (which is usually more premium and prized for book lovers) came with deep marks ruining the book’s aesthetic. I was really disappointed because I planned on keeping this book in the best of shape and taking cautious care of it
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from Australia

Kathleen Fahy
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtfully beautiful
Reviewed in Australia on 22 December 2015
Verified Purchase
This story evokes an era of profound repression in of gay love. Written from the perspective of 19 year old Therese who is in love with Carol. You are left guessing until the end. Read it if you have ever been in love.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Janni
4.0 out of 5 stars A brave book about lesbian love.
Reviewed in Australia on 5 February 2016
Verified Purchase
A brave book for its time - the 1950's was very conformist so writing about a lesbian relationship was taking a risk. Highsmith has done an excellent job. I read the book in preparation for seeing the film; and both were absorbing.
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A gem of a story
Reviewed in Australia on 10 January 2016
Verified Purchase
I found it hard to put this kindle version of the book down. Can't wait for the movie with the Devine miss Kate. Sexuality has never been depicted more interestingly, more intimately. Fascinating, engrossing, wonderful.
Thanks to the Devine miss Highsmith.
Helpful
 Report
John
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in Australia on 6 March 2016
Verified Purchase
I'm a big fan of Highsmith but found this just mediocre. Her first novel
Helpful
 Report
Joan Vaccaro
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in Australia on 8 February 2019
Verified Purchase
The suspense of the romance is enthralling.
Helpful
 Report
mingo
4.0 out of 5 stars Sensually written
Reviewed in Australia on 2 November 2017
Verified Purchase
Sensual but a slow paced story. A frustrating choice for a woman in love in that decade.
I Would recommend
Helpful
 Report
Christina Jorgensen
5.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting story. Well written It explores the ...
Reviewed in Australia on 19 March 2016
Verified Purchase
A very interesting story .Well written It explores the sexual desires of two females . This would have been documented in a time when this sort of relationship was not accepted.
Helpful
 Report
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and well written love story, an ending in which novels of this ...
Reviewed in Australia on 27 June 2016
Verified Purchase
Enjoyable and well written love story, an ending in which novels of this genre rarely go down the path of
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Mya
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book
Reviewed in Canada on 12 December 2022
Verified Purchase
The book came perfect. Extremely satisfied!
2 people found this helpful
 Report
chiara
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfetto
Reviewed in Italy on 28 September 2023
Verified Purchase
Ottimo stato, molto soddisfatti
Report
Rupali
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth a read
Reviewed in India on 17 June 2021
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. Didn't know it at first. Saw the movie and instantly drawn to read this book. And I'm satisfied. Happy ending in such stories are so rare . But this story has it. I love both individuals. Carol a bit more.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars Me encanto
Reviewed in Mexico on 28 December 2019
Verified Purchase
Ya he leído este libro, súper recomendado
One person found this helpful
 Report
Lisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Carol, a good film, a great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 December 2017
Verified Purchase
Incredible. Don’t you feel a bit silly when you sort of half see a film between shifts in the kitchen and think I must read that book? I know I do, because it seems as if you are being led by advertisers to the slaughter but because of Christmas preparations I missed half of Carol on the TV and I couldn’t work out whether or not it had a happy ending as it was all a bit vague. I saw enough to be interested, so I ordered the book. Was I in for a treat! I wouldn’t go so far as to say I like the Georgian style of writing, that is very quaint and too long-winded for me, but my taste usually lands somewhere between Steinbeck and Hemingway. What makes Patricia Highsmith’s writing so special is that amongst her overt simplicity a beautifully descriptive phrase will come out of nowhere. I am thinking of phrases like “her short fair hair that made Therese think of perfume held to a light”. The writing style is so simple that this book can speak to anyone; it is beautiful at times, stark and brutal at others, but always evocative.
I wish I had found this book when I was nineteen. That was an age at which the world had not changed so much as to make it seem an old fashioned story. Today everything goes and yet people are still unhappy. There are those who will never understand this level of repression and for them I am glad; there are others who still suffer under it and I never want them to be forgotten. The past interests me because our lives are not long enough to learn from experience and still know everything good that love has to offer. Two quotes hit my Twitter feed this morning:
“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” – Hellen Keller and “Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun.” – Marcus Aurelius
Both of those sum it up beautifully. Today young people are often (but not always) out and proud and it is probably hard to empathise with the level of restrained passion and yearning in this novel but Patricia Highsmith’s characterisation is so good you can’t but feel every nuance along with them, every last bit of yearning, every pang of disappointment. It is a beautiful story and a terrifying one therefore when their happiness so quickly turns into an ordeal of persecution. In the book, you see Therese is less of an innocent, Carol is less of a seducer and both are tormented by circumstances they cannot hope to control. Carol’s sacrifice and bravery is so much clearer than in the film too, Therese’s pain and coming to terms with the loss of her first true love is still there but she hurts others as much as she is hurt by them. Richard is a brute. We don’t see much of this in the film and the ending is far less optimistic. I often prefer the book to the film, but I was grateful for the film because it led me to an unforgettable read that had me up all night.

This is not just a book for those interested in LGBT rights or lesbian romance because it has a very clear truth at its heart. One that all adults know. There is nothing quite like falling in love. It overwhelms you totally and the rush of endorphins is unbelievable. That is probably why so many people are addicted to love of course and continually searching for “The One”. They never find “The One” because harsh reality and even sexual satisfaction itself can take the shine right off that first rush of overwhelming tenderness and desire and yet sometimes, just sometimes, if you can live through the pain and the sheer ordinariness of life, a deeper and stronger affection is born. That is the happiest ending of all and in Carol you live through these characters and feel every emotion they do which makes the ending just perfect in its optimism.

LEAVE A REPLY

Archived Entry
• Post Date :
• December 26, 2017 at 2:55 pm
• Category :
• Uncategorized
• Do More :
• You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.Edit this entry.
Carol, a good film, a great read
Incredible. Don’t you feel a bit silly when you sort of half see a film between shifts in the kitchen and think I must read that book? I know I do, because it seems as if you are being led by advertisers to the slaughter but because of Christmas preparations I missed half of Carol on the TV and I couldn’t work out whether or not it had a happy ending as it was all a bit vague. I saw enough to be interested, so I ordered the book. Was I in for a treat! I wouldn’t go so far as to say I like the Georgian style of writing, that is very quaint and too long-winded for me, but my taste usually lands somewhere between Steinbeck and Hemingway. What makes Patricia Highsmith’s writing so special is that amongst her overt simplicity a beautifully descriptive phrase will come out of nowhere. I am thinking of phrases like “her short fair hair that made Therese think of perfume held to a light”. The writing style is so simple that this book can speak to anyone; it is beautiful at times, stark and brutal at others, but always evocative.
I wish I had found this book when I was nineteen. That was an age at which the world had not changed so much as to make it seem an old fashioned story. Today everything goes and yet people are still unhappy. There are those who will never understand this level of repression and for them I am glad; there are others who still suffer under it and I never want them to be forgotten. The past interests me because our lives are not long enough to learn from experience and still know everything good that love has to offer. Two quotes hit my Twitter feed this morning:
“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” – Hellen Keller and “Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun.” – Marcus Aurelius
Both of those sum it up beautifully. Today young people are often (but not always) out and proud and it is probably hard to empathise with the level of restrained passion and yearning in this novel but Patricia Highsmith’s characterisation is so good you can’t but feel every nuance along with them, every last bit of yearning, every pang of disappointment. It is a beautiful story and a terrifying one therefore when their happiness so quickly turns into an ordeal of persecution. In the book, you see Therese is less of an innocent, Carol is less of a seducer and both are tormented by circumstances they cannot hope to control. Carol’s sacrifice and bravery is so much clearer than in the film too, Therese’s pain and coming to terms with the loss of her first true love is still there but she hurts others as much as she is hurt by them. Richard is a brute. We don’t see much of this in the film and the ending is far less optimistic. I often prefer the book to the film, but I was grateful for the film because it led me to an unforgettable read that had me up all night.

This is not just a book for those interested in LGBT rights or lesbian romance because it has a very clear truth at its heart. One that all adults know. There is nothing quite like falling in love. It overwhelms you totally and the rush of endorphins is unbelievable. That is probably why so many people are addicted to love of course and continually searching for “The One”. They never find “The One” because harsh reality and even sexual satisfaction itself can take the shine right off that first rush of overwhelming tenderness and desire and yet sometimes, just sometimes, if you can live through the pain and the sheer ordinariness of life, a deeper and stronger affection is born. That is the happiest ending of all and in Carol you live through these characters and feel every emotion they do which makes the ending just perfect in its optimism.
28 people found this helpful
 Report