E.L. James has released her new novel, Grey, that re-tells the events of Fifty Shades of Grey from the perspective of its antagonist, Christian Grey.
The new book could make the author even richer as stores scramble to order enough copies for fans.
Based on “unprecedented” pre-order figures, it is thought the book could achieve a similar level of success to the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, with more than 20 million copies sold worldwide.
Tom Tivnan, features and insight editor of The Bookseller, told The Guardian: “Fifty Shades of Grey is the biggest-selling book in Britain since records began, so even if the new book can manage only 20 per cent of what that sold, she will still sell almost a million copies.
“So, this is a huge, huge deal for Penguin Random House. I think we can comfortably say it will be the biggest book of the year, no problem.”
There are a number of scenes in the first book which fans are begging to be told by Christian’ Greys perspective, including his first meeting with Anastasia Steele and the night he randomly turned up at a night club to save her after she drunk dialed him.
Grey has been released on Christian Grey’s official birthday.
The manuscript of E.L. James’s upcoming Fifty Shadesof Grey novel, Grey, has been stolen from publisher Random House ahead of its publication.
Police has launched an investigation after the publisher discovered a copy of Grey had gone missing on June 8.
It is feared thieves may leak the novel, or sell extracts to the media.
Grey, which re-tells the first installment of the hit trilogy from billionaire Christian Grey’s point of view, is due to be released next week.
Random House and solicitors for the publisher would not give any other information about the missing book.
A publisher’s spokesman said: “We have no comment to make due to an ongoing police investigation.”
A spokesman for Kent Police said: “Officers are making inquiries after receiving a report that a book had been stolen on June 8.”
The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy has sold more than 125 million copies worldwide since the first book’s release in 2011.
When announcing the release of Grey last week, E.L. James said she wrote the new book after “thousands of readers” had written to her requesting to hear Christian Grey’s point of view.
Grey will be published on June 18 – Christian Grey’s birthday.
Fifty Shades of Grey director Sam Taylor-Johnson will not direct the movie’s planned two sequels.
Sam Taylor-Johnson said she was “hugely grateful” to have been chosen to adapt E.L. James’s 2011 best-seller.
She then wished “nothing but success to whosoever takes on the exciting challenges of films two and three”.
Fifty Shades or Grey, about a businessman who begins an affair with a young student, has made almost $560 million at the worldwide box office.
Photo Getty Images
E.L. James’s trilogy of Fifty Shades books have reportedly sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages.
Relations between Sam Taylor-Johnson and the author were said to be strained during its production, prompting speculation the artist-turned-director would not return to continue or complete the film trilogy.
“We battled all the way through,” Sam Taylor-Johnson told Vanity Fair magazine.
“She’d say the same. There were tough times and revelatory times. There were sparring contests. It was definitely not an easy process.”
Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson are expected to return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in the next film, scheduled for release in 2017.
Will Smith’s movie Focus has debuted at No 1 on the North American box office chart, knocking Fifty Shades of Grey off the top spot.
However, it was a relatively modest opening for Will Smith, with Focus earning an estimated $19.1 million between February 28 and March 1.
Fifty Shades of Grey fell to fourth with $10.9 million after spending two weeks at number one.
In second place was Colin Firth’s spy thriller Kingsman: The Secret Service.
Kingsman: The Secret Service took $11.8 million over the weekend, just ahead of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, which made $11.2 million in its fourth week of release.
The second highest new entry, horror film The Lazarus Effect, rounded out the top five, taking $10.6 million.
Focus gives Will Smith his first major role since 2013’s After Earth, the Sci-Fi flop that also starred his teenage son Jaden, and went on to win three Razzie awards.
The movie is about a conman who introduces his young lover to the tricks of the trade before breaking off their relationship. Three years later, they meet again in Argentina, where they are both trying to scam the same billionaire.
Some commentators have concluded that Will Smith’s box office pulling power is on the wane given the relatively low takings for a No 1 movie.
However, Warner Bros said Focus, which was made for about $50 million, was only predicted to take about $21 million in its opening weekend.
Fifty Shades of Grey remains on the top of the North American box office for a second weekend, taking an estimated $23.2 million.
The adaptation of E.L. James’s best-selling novel earned an additional $68 million overseas.
Fifty Shades of Grey is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.
Despite its continued success, its takings fell by 73% from its record-breaking $85 million Valentine’s Day debut.
The movie’s opening weekend takings beat previous record-holder The Passion of the Christ’s $83.9 million in 2004.
E.L. James’s trilogy of Fifty Shades books have reportedly sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages.
Following on from Fifty Shades in the chart was action spy film Kingsman: The Secret Service, which held on to the number two spot in the box office chart for a second week, taking $17.5 million.
Animated movie The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water similarly maintained its position at No 3, earning $15.5 million in its third week of release.
Rounding up the top five films were two new releases.
Disney’s cross-country racing tale McFarland, USA starring Kevin Costner opened at number four with $11.3 million.
While high school comedy The DUFF opened at No 5, taking $11 million.
A few Oscar contenders received a boost at the box office ahead of Sunday’s 87th annual Academy Awards.
American Sniper, which was up for six awards and won one for sound editing, took another $9.6 million, putting it in the number six position in its ninth weekend of release.
The Imitation Game, nominated for eight Academy Awards and winning one for best adapted screenplay, came in at number nine with $2.5 million in its 13th weekend.
Still Alice, for which Julianne Moore won the best actress Oscar, earned $2.2 million after its release was extended to 765 cinemas in its sixth weekend.
Fifty Shades of Grey screen adaptation has topped the North American box offices this weekend with an estimated $81.7 million.
It was the second-highest February debut ever, behind The Passion of the Christ‘s $83.9 million opening in 2004.
Based on E.L. James’ best-selling novel, Fifty Shades of Grey is directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and stars Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.
According to Universal Pictures, North American audiences were 68% female.
The film’s takings were more than double those of its nearest box office rival, Kingsman: The Secret Service, which earned $35.6 million, according to studio estimates.
Around the world, Fifty Shades of Grey took an estimated $158 million from 58 countries.
E.L. James’s trilogy of Fifty Shades books have reportedly sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water came third on the box office chart with $30.5 million in its second weekend on release.
Rounding out the top five were the Oscar-nominated American Sniper with $16.4 million, and sci-fi fantasy Jupiter Ascending with $9.4 million.
Fifty Shades Of Grey will be hitting UK’s theaters in full glory after censors approved the film without any cuts.
Based on E.L. James’s best-selling books, Fifty Shades Of Grey stars Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as his lover Anastasia Steele.
Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, it is due for release on February 13 ahead of Valentine’s Day.
E.L. James’s trilogy of Fifty Shades books have reportedly sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 50 languages.
In the US the film has been given an R rating, meaning those under 17 years old can watch it if accompanied by an adult.
Charlie Hunnam has revealed that it was “a nervous breakdown” that really led to his departure from the upcoming adaptation of the best-selling E.L. James novel Fifty Shades of Grey.
Charlie Hunnam, who would have played Christian Grey opposite Dakota Johnson’s Anastasia Steele, told Moviefone that the Focus Features drama would have been one project too many, since he already committed to shooting Guillermo de Toro’s Crimson Peak during his hiatus from FX series Sons of Anarchy.
“I was going to finish <<Sons>> at like 11 p.m. Friday night, get on the plane Saturday morning to Vancouver for <<Fifty>>, missing the whole first week of rehearsal and start shooting Monday morning,” the actor explained.
Charlie Hunnam has revealed that it was a nervous breakdown that really led to his departure from the upcoming Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation
“And I was going to shoot that film, wrap that on the Wednesday and the following Monday I was going to start shooting <<Crimson Peak>> in Toronto. I just had like … frankly, something of a nervous breakdown.”
The passionate response from fans and the attention the media was giving Fifty Shades also contributed to his decision to back out of the role just weeks after being cast.
“To fail on such a grand scale – because Fifty’s going to be massive, it’s going to be huge. I really didn’t want to fail on such a grand scale and I just couldn’t transition from Jax Teller to Christian Grey in 48 hours,” Charlie Hunnam said.
“I bit off more than I could chew and it was painful. I loved the character and I wanted to do it.”
Charlie Hunnam has returned to the small screen as biker Jax Teller on September 9 when the seventh and final season of Sons of Anarchy premiered on FX.
CinemaCon 2014, the Official Convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from March 24 to 27.
Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler and Kevin Costner were among the winners at an awards ceremony to mark the close of the CinemaCon convention.
The festival allows cinema exhibitors to get a first look at new films as studios and actors present footage from their most-hyped forthcoming projects.
This week, the first scenes from the eagerly-anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation were unveiled.
The new Hobbit, X-Men and The Amazing Spider-Man films were also teased.
Sony Pictures debuted 30 minutes of 3D footage from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone – including scenes explaining the death of Peter Parker’s parents.
They also introduced Max Dillon who becomes Electro – played by Jamie Foxx; and Harry Osborn who becomes the Green Goblin – played by Dane DeHaan.
CinemaCon 2014 took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas from March 24 to 27
Jupiter Ascending, the new sci-fi fantasy adventure from the Wachowski siblings Andy and Lana, who created The Matrix trilogy, was also unveiled.
Mila Kunis joined her co-star Channing Tatum to promote the film in which Tatum plays a “genetically engineered human and wolf”.
Other films included Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and The Fault of Our Stars, based on John Green’s best-selling tearjerker about two young people with cancer who fall in love.
Its star Shailene Woodley was handed the female star of tomorrow award.
Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were awarded a prize for comedy filmmakers of the year after unveiling scenes from their new film The Interview, which stars Rogen and James Franco as two friends asked to assassinate Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea.
Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann – who was named comedy star of the year – attended the convention to promote their forthcoming film The Other Woman.
The movie sees Cameron Diaz’s character discover her boyfriend is actually married to Leslie Mann’s character, before the pair team up to seek revenge.
Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler were handed the awards for male and female star of the year, after attending the festival to promote Blended.
The comedy about two families who embark on a trip to Africa reunites the pair who previously starred in 50 First Dates and The Wedding Singer.
Fifty Shades of Grey directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.
Exhibitors were shown scenes featuring Christian Grey whisking Anastasia Steel off her feet with a joyride in his helicopter and a fancy make-over.
Johnny Depp presented clips of his new sci-fi drama Transcendence, in which he plays a terminally ill scientist-turned-unruly computer system.
Universal Pictures and Focus Features have released the first poster of the adaptation of E.L. James’ novel Fifty Shades of Grey.
The poster depicts business magnate Christian Grey with his back to the viewer, facing a window, with the message: “Mr. Grey Will See You Now.”
The film is set to be released on February 13, 2015.
Fifty Shades of Grey movie is set to be released on February 13, 2015
It was originally slated for release on August 1, 2014, but the date was moved back after Charlie Hunnam, who was initially cast to play Christian Grey, dropped out of the film, citing scheduling conflicts.
Jamie Dornan will now portray Christian Grey in the film.
The book and film depict the relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, who’ll be portrayed by Dakota Johnson.
Jamie Dornan is replacing Charlie Hunnam in the role of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey movie.
Irish actor Jamie Dornan was among a handful of young heartthrobs to read for the role late last week, TheWrap reported.
Australian actor Luke Bracey, who stars in Max Landis’ directorial debut Me Him Her, was also competing for the role.
Jamie Dornan is replacing Charlie Hunnam in the role of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey movie
Jamie Dornan is being hired to replace Charlie Hunnam, who dropped out of the hotly-anticipated project last week, citing a lack of preparation time due to his TV schedule for Sons of Anarchy.
Sam Taylor-Johnson is directing Fifty Shades of Grey for Universal and Focus. Mike De Luca and Dana Brunetti are producing the movie, which is scheduled to hit theaters on August 1st, 2014.
Jamie Dornan is a former rugby player and Calvin Klein model who honed his acting craft in London. It was there that he dated Keira Knightley, who introduced him to her agent.
Charlie Hunnam has pulled out of the film adaptation of bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey.
It was announced in September that Charlie Hunnam would play billionaire Christian Grey.
Universal Pictures said that his departure was a mutual decision due to a scheduling problem with Charlie Hunnam’s TV commitments.
Fifty Shades of Grey‘s author E.L. James tweeted her best wishes to the actor.
Charlie Hunnam has pulled out of the film adaptation of bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey
Artist and film-maker Sam Taylor-Johnson will direct the movie version of E.L. James’ novel, scheduled for release in August 2014.
Published in 2011, Fifty Shades of Grey follows the relationship between billionaire Christian Grey and college student Anastasia Steele.
Dakota Johnson will play Anastasia Steele and Jennifer Ehle has been cast as her mother.
The novel and its two sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, have become a literary phenomenon that earned E.L. James, 50, a reported $95 million last year.
There had been intense speculation over who would win the coveted lead roles in the film adaptation.
Since winning the role there have been reports that Charlie Hunnam had been overwhelmed by the attention and had got cold feet.
However, the statement from Universal Pictures said Charlie Hunnam’s departure was due to “Hunnam’s immersive TV schedule which is not allowing him time to adequately prepare for the role of Christian Grey.”
Matt Bomer, Cilian Murphy, Ian Somerhalder and Alexander Skarsgard are among the actors being tipped as Charlie Hunnam’s replacement.
Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson will take on the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, respectively, in the anticipated big-screen adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey novel.
The news was tweeted by novel author E.L. James on Monday morning: “Good moaning all. Hold on to your hats…”
Dakota Johnson, 23, previously appeared in The Social Network – in which she shared a love scene with Justin Timberlake – and had small roles in 21 Jump Street, The Five-Year Engagement and Beastly.
Charlie Hunnam and Dakota Johnson will take on the roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, respectively, in the anticipated big-screen adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey novel
She is the daughter of Don Johnson, best known for TV shows Miami Vice and Nash Bridges, and his actress ex-wife Melanie Griffith.
It’s thought producers cast Dakota Johnson because they wanted a young, up-and-coming actress to play the role of Anastasia Steele.
Charlie Hunnam, who is 33 years old and British, stars in the dark biker thriller Sons Of Anarchy as Jackson “Jax” Teller and also appeared in Guillermo del Toro’s robot epic Pacific Rim.
The castings close waves of rumors about who would take on the roles – Emma Watson, Imogen Poots, Armie Hammer and Ian Somerhalder, among many others, were at one time tied to a main role on the film.
The film will be directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Nowhere Boy), based off the adapted script by Kelly Marcel (Terra Nova).
Fifty Shades Of Grey is currently slated for release in August 2014.
British lingerie company BlueBella teamed up with writer E L James to create the official Fifty Shades of Grey lingerie collection taking inspiration from her bestselling novels.
Gift sets feature some of the book’s most memorable catchphrases embroidered into the fabric such as “laters baby” and “You. Are. Mine”.
There’s also baby doll sets, detailed lace button-up briefs and bra and knicker sets with detachable silk satin ties.
The Fifty Shades of Grey collection will be debuted at the Moda Lingerie & Swimwear Show at the NEC Birmingham in August and will then go on sale with items ranging in price from £12 ($19) to £40 ($63).
BlueBella teamed up with writer E L James to create the official Fifty Shades of Grey lingerie collection
Emily Bendell, chief executive and founder of BlueBella, said: “The <<Fifty Shades effect>> has benefited our business and the books have played a significant role in shifting perceptions of female sensuality.
“This is core to our vision too, so we feel this is a perfect partnership.”
BlueBella have launched the first collection this summer in the hope it will become a must-have stocking filler at Christmas.
A second collection will hit the shops next summer to coincide with the launch of the anticipated film adaptation.
BlueBella was founded in 2005 by Oxford graduate Emily Bendell, with a mission to inspire female confidence.
Emily Bendell wanted to create seductive fashion lingerie and sensual products, designed by women, for women.
The film adaptation of the best-selling novel Fifty Shades Of Grey will be released in the US on August 1st, 2014.
The film has been highly anticipated, given the widespread success of the books (70 million copies of E.L. James’ trilogy have been sold).
And yet, no cast members have been officially named as the stars of the Sam Taylor-Johnson feature.
The story follows the relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, a college student.
The book received as much criticism as it did praise.
The film adaptation of the best-selling novel Fifty Shades Of Grey will be released in the US on August 1st, 2014
It is rather uplifting that Sam Taylor-Johnson, 46, has been attached to direct, despite having a rather small list of credits to her name.
As Forbes magazine noted, this may have been uncommon for women to date, but not for men – for example, Rupert Sanders was attached to direct Snow White And The Huntsmen with only commercials as credits.
The internet has been overflowing with rumors of who would be cast in the two lead roles. And while there has been no official confirmation as to who will play Christian Grey, some stars have categorically denied it.
Despite Sam Taylor-Johnson’s much younger husband Aaron Taylor-Wood, 23, being a potential choice for the male lead, his publicist told USA Today quite simply that: “Aaron is not doing 50 Shades Of Grey.”
Ian Somerhalder and Robert Pattinson have both been pinpointed as potential players for the male lead, but still nothing is official.
Emma Watson famously denied any potential involvement in the film via her Twitter account, writing: “Who here actually thinks I would do 50 Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.”
The movie will be produced by Dana Brunetti, producer of The Social Network and TV series House Of Cards, and distributed by Focus Features.
Emma Watson has ruled out of playing the role of Anastasia Steele in the film version of Fifty Shades of Grey.
Emma Watson, 22, told her fans on Twitter that the rumors of her starring in the movie adaptation of E. L. James’ best-selling novel are entirely untrue.
The actress tweeted on Sunday: “Who here actually thinks I would do 50 Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.”
Emma Watson later posted: “Good. Well that’s that sorted then.”
The role of Anastasia Steele would indeed be a departure from Emma Watson’s previous movies.
Emma Watson, who found fame as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise, has been trying to shed her good girl image of late.
Emma Watson has ruled out of playing the role of Anastasia Steele in the film version of Fifty Shades of Grey
Emma Watson isn’t the only name to have been linked to the role of Anastasia Steele in the highly-anticipated film.
Mila Kunis, Kristen Stewart and Nina Dobrev are among other stars whose names have been suggested for the part.
Keira Knightley was also linked to 50 Shades but she was unenthusiastic about taking on the raunchy role.
When asked if her next project will be a more risqué literary adaptation than she has done in the past, Keira Knightley replied: “No, it’s not. It’s not going to be Fifty Shades of Grey.
“You know, I normally don’t like to give a definite about anything, but I can definitely say it will not be Fifty Shades of Grey.”
Meanwhile, when it comes to who will be taking on the title role of Christian Grey, stars including Ryan Gosling and Zac Efron have been rumored.
But one of the favorites to take on the part is Ian Somerhalder.
Speaking recently about whether or not he would want to star in the film, Ian Somerhalder replied: “There are so many young boys up for this role. I think they have a very big job ahead of them, casting this role…
“So, I can’t say anything other than, it’s a very interesting story and whoever plays that role is going to have a lot of fun rehearsal time!”
Fifty Sheds of Grey, a clever parody of this year’s most talked about racy novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, has been out-selling the original in recent weeks.
It is one of dozens of satires published following the success of the Fifty Shades trilogy.
Fifty Sheds of Grey, which was spawned from a popular Twitter account, has sold 41,000 copies in the last two weeks, while E.L. James’s novel sold 29,000.
Written under the pseudonym Colin Trevor Grey, Fifty Sheds of Grey tells the story of a middle-aged man who is “thrust into an illicit world of pleasure and pain” after his wife reads Fifty Shades.
Colin Trevor Grey – who describes himself as a “passionate gardener and amateur shed owner” – has been treating followers to pictures of sexy sheds and Carry On-style erotic puns since June.
Most are horticulture-themed, but many offer hilarious snapshots of his everyday life.
He finds himself caught between his wife’s eagerness to try new things in the bedroom and “the love between a man and his shed”.
After accumulating over 90,000 followers thanks to his daily tweets, Colin Trevor Grey decided to publish a book of his funniest entries.
“A very nice chap from Pan Macmillan came knocking on my shed door after he saw me on Twitter,” he says.
“He said he thought mine was a story the world had to hear and offered me a contract there and then.
“Although, I have to admit I was a little wary – the last contract I signed was one my wife drew up after reading ‘that book’ and it resulted in me spending every Thursday morning being led round Sainsbury’s in handcuffs and a rubber thong.”
Fifty Sheds of Grey, a clever parody of this year’s most talked about racy novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, has been out-selling the original in recent weeks
When his wife picked up Fifty Shades he said he was unwittingly thrust head-first into the mysterious, illicit world of pleasure and pain – and his happy and simple life changed forever.
Looking for a way to express his frustrations, he said he took to Twitter.
“I write my Twitter account alone in my shed. It’s the only place I can get a moment’s peace – at least, it was.”
Following the fastest-selling paperback of all time comes Fifty Sheds of Grey: A Parody: Erotica for the not-too-modern male.
“My wife doesn’t know I’ve written a book yet,” he said.
“I’m hoping she doesn’t find out, to be honest, as it contains intimate details of past indiscretions, including my deflowering at the hands of an older woman –I went into her shed a boy and came out a man.”
EL James’s original Fifty Shades, which follows a love affair between naïve Anastasia Steele and businessman Christian Grey, has sold 4.5million copies in the UK.
OTHER PARODY TRIBUTES
Fifty Shames of Earl Grey: Young, arrogant tycoon Earl Grey seduces Anna Steal with his good looks and staggering amounts of money. But will she be able to get past his fifty shames, including a love of bondage with handcuffs, and shopping at non-luxury supermarkets?
Fifty Shades of Gravy: When Vanessa Biscuits attends a cookery class with the renowned Chef Gray, she finds him beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. Gray, unable to resist her slavish devotion to him, admits he wants her, but on his own peculiar terms: covered in gravy.
Fifty Shades of Garbage: Marcia and Joe are swept up in the Fifty Shades mania that has seduced the middle-classes. While Marcia devours the novels, Joe scorns them – while secretly listening to the audiobooks on his commute.
Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy: A bodice-rippingly erotic twist on Jane Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice.
Fifty Shades of Bacon: Not a sensual novel, but rather a cookbook that attempts to provide a series of delectable bacon-based recipes.
The French translation of British erotic novel Fifty Shades Of Grey was only released on Wednesday, but has already become the fastest selling book in French publishing history.
The astonishing sales figures – of around 75,000 every day – come after the book was panned by French critics as “crass pseudo-porn” that reads like a Mills & Boon novel.
One high-brow reviewer even wrote: “It’s as close to literature as Whiskas cat food is to gastronomy.”
But despite the torrent of critical abuse, E.L James bestseller has now overtaken the Harry Potter novels as France’s favorite book.
French high street giant FNAC said copies of the novel had been “flying of the shelves”.
A spokesman for FNAC – which accounts for around a fifth of all book sales in France – said: “It is amazingly popular. We have never stocked a book that has sold so fast.
“We sold 15,000 copies on the day it was released. In some shops there were just none left.”
But the scathing views of critics from major newspapers and magazines have not matched the huge popularity of France’s latest publishing phenomenon.
Fifty Shades Of Grey has become the fastest selling book in French publishing history
Daily newspaper Le Figaro wrote: “It has no intellectual construction. It is Fifty Shades of Boredom.”
The paper compared the book – first released in the UK in May 2011 – to French classic erotic writing by the Marquis de Sade and Anais Nin’s The Story Of O.
It added: “Alongside them, this is soda-masochism <<lite>>, full of insignificant, consensual and clichéd content.”
Les Inrocks music magazine said: “It is exposes the cultural gulf between the Anglo-Saxon hypocrisy and the old authentic sado-masochism of the French.”
News magazine L’Express wrote: “The female character’s multiple orgasms are laughably unbelievable. This crass, pseudo porn might prove to be a massive boost to the sex toy industry, but it’s got nothing to do with good writing.
“This may be what pleases the British public, who can identify with the character Ana’s conflict between her <<conscience>> and her <<inner goddess>>, but it remains to be seen if the French will regard the book with anything more than curiosity.
“Some couples may say it has helped their sex lives by reading it, but it’s as close to literature as Whiskas cat food is to gastronomy.”
And the 20 Minutes news website added: “It’s a load of Mills & Boon-style rubbish.”
Meanwhile, the French publisher JC Lattes has already ordered 500,000 copies – one of the biggest print runs of any French publishing house in recent years.
It has also become the fastest-selling book of all time, shifting more than five million copies in the UK and 40 million around the world.
Fifty Shades of Grey’s Christian Grey has become one of the literary world’s most infamous characters.
So just where did author E.L. James get the inspiration for the man who enjoys kinky S&M sex in his red room of pain?
Certainly not from her husband said the man himself, Niall Leonard, who appeared on Lorraine Kelly’s show on Daybreak this week.
The author’s husband said this is the question he is most often asked now his wife’s erotic novels have become bestsellers so he’s keen to set the record straight.
“It’s a fantasy, it’s certainly not based on me,” he said.
“In fact perhaps being married to me helped her to fantasize about someone more interesting. You are talking about a chap with a 32 inch waist and helicopter pilot licence so it’s certainly not based on me.”
Fifty Shades of Grey’s Christian Grey has become one of the literary world's most infamous characters
Leonard Niall said he and his wife, whose real name is Erika Mitchell, are still “coming to terms” with the success of her books. Since being published last year, they have become worldwide bestsellers, smashing records for paperback sales and making Erika Mitchell a fortune.
He said the sales have been beyond their dreams given Erika Mitchell only wrote the novels “for fun”.
He said: “She wrote it for herself, all the best books are written for the person who writes them. It was her own story, her own dream. She put it down on paper for a few friends to read it and then wanted it published to have her name on it.
“It was doing ok last summer and then it got bigger and bigger and then exploded. We’re still coming to terms with it, it’s happened so quick we’re both still in shock.”
The books have been so popular the film rights have been snapped up. Who will be cast in the role of Christian remains hotly anticipated with Ryan Gosling the current favorite for the part. But Leonard Niall said he is currently none the wiser on who will be cast despite his wife being involved in the film project.
“Every actor in Hollywood wants the part but I don’t know if it’s been cast yet,” he said.
The couple, who live in Ealing, London, with their two sons are both writers and Leonard Naill has recently published his own novel, Crusher, which he describes as a modern contemporary thriller.
Leonard Niall already worked as a TV screenwriter but was inspired to become a novelist by his wife – before her books became bestsellers.
He said: “She had a really good time doing it. I saw she was enjoying it so much and she was writing the story she wanted to be told.
“I wanted to sit down and write my own story. She said <<why don’t you?>> so that’s when I did.”
Leonard Niall pointed out his novel is nothing like his wife’s although he said it does have some “naughty bits”.
Rumors of an official merchandising deal for a Fifty Shades brand surfaced months ago, and this week TMZ claimed that Fifty Shades-themed lingerie, sleepwear and clothing will be coming to a store near you very soon.
Three separate companies have confirmed licensing deals with author E.L James to sell the first-ever official Fifty Shades branded apparel line: A company called HYP will be selling hosiery, garters, and tights; FREEZE Clothing will be selling the knits, tees, and hoodies and Briefly Stated will sell daywear, loungewear, sleepwear and underwear.
TMZ claimed that Fifty Shades-themed lingerie, sleepwear and clothing will be coming to a store near you very soon
E.L. James – who earns almost $1.5 million a week from the erotic books – signed a deal with independent agency Caroline Mickler earlier this summer, giving Mickler the responsibility for building the brand worldwide.
Caroline Mickler told fashion blog fashionista.com: “The market’s interest in Fifty Shades of Grey as a brand is enormous.
“With continuing book sales and a film version keeping awareness high, we expect this property to make a very strong showing in a number of licensed categories over the coming months.”
A Facebook poll today put Batman star Christan Bale as favourite to play billionaire Christian Grey in the movie of the book ahead of Robert Pattinson and Magic Mike star Matt Bomer who has been the favorite for the role since Universal Pictures acquired the rights.
The “first picture” of character Christian Grey from E.L. James’s novel Fifty Shades of Grey has been created by Dr. Faye Skelton, who has used descriptions and image-generating software.
University of Central Lancashire’s Dr. Faye Skelton made the image using descriptions of how women said they imagined protagonist Christian Grey.
Dr. Faye Skelton said the composite, created with software used to make images of criminal suspects, was “a bit of fun”.
She said she hoped the image would not “intrude on anyone’s fantasies”.
The "first picture" of character Christian Grey from E.L. James's novel Fifty Shades of Grey created by Dr. Faye Skelton
The erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey, which recently became the fastest adult paperback novel to sell one million print copies, tells the story of the steamy relationship between billionaire businessman Christian Grey and “unworldly, innocent” literature student, Anastasia Steele.
Dr. Faye Skelton used the descriptions of 12 women given to a radio station to create the composite and said most had drawn “comparisons with famous film stars”.
“While we don’t want to intrude on anyone’s fantasies, based on a small sample of women, this is the image of Christian Grey they have in their heads when reading the novels,” she said.
“Personally, I think he’s quite handsome – although everyone’s interpretation will be different.”
She added that the image “was just a bit of fun, but it does show the quality of image we can now generate”.
The university’s psychology department has been at the forefront of facial composite technology and created advanced software which uses the selection of multiple complete faces to create an image of a person.
It has been used by police forces across the world to identify criminal suspects.
Fifty Shades Of Grey by E.L. James has become the number one best-selling Kindle book of all time at Amazon.co.uk, it was revealed today.
Despite the trilogy only being published in March this year, the racy international best-sellers have sold over one million copies in the online store’s Kindle department, while author E.L. James has become the bestselling author of the year on the site as a whole.
E.L. James, originally a self-published Kindle Direct Publishing Author saw popularity of her book soar online after readers embarrassed to be seen with a hard copy of the racy tome preferred to buy online.
The Kindle edition of Fifty Shades of Grey is currently outselling the print book at a rate of more than 2 to 1.
Fifty Shades Of Grey by E.L. James has become the number one best-selling Kindle book of all time at Amazon.co.uk
“E.L. James’ books have become both the fastest-selling and the best-selling series ever on Kindle. That’s an exceptional achievement for a debut novelist and we’re excited to see her pass the one million sales milestone,” said Gordon Willoughby, spokesman for Kindle.
“Following a stint of self-publishing, first online and then via KDP, E.L. James found a fan base and her success has rocketed from there.
“Her books have become a worldwide phenomenon demonstrating what a powerful launch pad KDP can be.”
In addition to the sales success seen on Kindle, Fifty Shades Of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed are the first, second and third best-selling print books at Amazon.co.uk and their combined sales have also made her the best-selling print author of the year so far.
Sales of the book, the first in a trilogy, have overtaken the Harry Potter books and the Da Vinci Code, to the delight of not only E.L. James, but established romance writer Jilly Cooper.
Fifty Shades writer E.L. James, whose real name is Erika Mitchell has said she thinks her books are successful because they offer women a “holiday from their husbands”.
This website has updated its privacy policy in compliance with EU GDPR 2016/679. Please read this to review the updates about which personal data we collect on our site. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our updated policy. AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
