50 shades of grey: book

E.L. James Quote

E.L. James Quote

50 shades of gray (2011) was the dream literary debut of the British author known as EL James. Few first films released in the new millennium have garnered such notoriety in the English-speaking literary sphere and in Western pop culture. Not surprisingly, in 2012 the magazine Time included Erika Mitchell—her birth name—among the “100 Most Influential People in the World.”

Also in 2012, Mitchell won "Popular Fiction Book of the Year" and "Book of the Year" from the National Book british awards. Likewise, she received the award "Publishing Person of the Year” from the prestigious American weekly Publishers Weekly. Therefore, it is not surprising that Fifty Shades of Grey -original title in English- has been taken to the cinema along with their respective sequels.

Impact of 50 shades of gray

Enshrined under a pseudonym

Erika Leonard Mitchell began using the nickname EL James when she completed 50 shades of gray. The London author preferred to sign under an alias due to the sexually explicit nature of her fiction coupled with having two small children at the time of the book's release.

In any case, James went from being a self-published writer in May 2011 to the number one best-selling author in Forbes 2013 in August. During this period, Fifty Shades Gray generated more than 95 million US dollars in sales. Clearly, publisher Bloom Books made an excellent decision when it released a revised edition of the title in April 2012.

A pop culture phenomenon

To date, de Fifty Shades Gray more than 150 million copies have been sold, mainly in the United States and the United Kingdom. The book has also been translated into 52 languages. In 2015, James sold the film rights to the title for $5 million to Focus Features, Michael De Luca Productions, and Trigger Street Productions.

Currently, the series created by the English author is considered an iconic example of viral marketing, Well, obviously, his books set a precedent. Similarly, James has received rave reviews from international critics for renewing her interest in the erotic literature between readers and publishers.

50 shades of gray summary

Home

AnastasiaAna” Steele is an attractive 21-year-old who study Literature at the University of Washington in Vancouver. She travels to Seattle to interview Christian Gray, 27, the mysterious SEO of Gray Industries. Originally, the protagonist's roommate, Kate Kavanaugh, was the person assigned to conduct the interview, but she was unable to attend due to the flu.

The businessman seems very attractive to Ana, but quite haughty and intimidating at the same time. The girl believes that she will not see him again after the interview, but he appears at Clayton's, the hardware store where she works in Portland, Oregon. The alludes to being in town on business and buy a few things like cable ties, duct tape, and rope.

Development

Ana and Christian's third meeting is in a photo session of the latter for Kate's article. For this they are at the Heathman Hotel —where he is staying— together with the photographer José González. After the photos are taken, Gray buys Steele a coffee and takes the opportunity to ask him if José or Paul Clayton (the owner of the hardware store) he is her boyfriend. She replies no.

before saying goodbye, the protagonist returns the question when he is walking towards his car; The tycoon's response is "I do romances." At that moment, Ana stumbles and is almost run over by a cyclist unless Christian catches her in his arms. So, she wants to kiss him, but he doesn't, for this reason the girl feels rejected and “very ordinary”.

the gift

Ana and Kate finish their end-of-semester exams and get ready to celebrate in a bar. Just before leaving, Steele receives a package from Christian containing the first editions of Tess of the d'Urbervilles from Tomas Hardy along with a handwritten note. Already at the party, Anastasia gets drunk and calls Gray to tell him that she plans to return her gift to him.

Meanwhile, Kate hooks up on the dance floor with Elliot, the young mogul's brother. Christian quickly realizes the drunkenness of the protagonist and rebukes her to tell him her location. Ana refuses, but Gray traces her phone and makes it to the bar together as José is proposing to Steele.

The consent

After pulling her away from González, Anastasia ends up vomiting and passed out in the young tycoon's arms. Waking up, the girl finds herself in Christian's suite. When the protagonist verifies that nothing sexual happened between the two of them, he explains that he will never lay a finger on her without her written consent. However, Gray kisses her before saying goodbye in the hotel elevator.

A few days later, Christian flies Anastasia by helicopter to his opulent Seattle estate. Over there, he makes her sign a confidentiality clause and shows her his "play room" (sadomasochistic game room). But that's the least of the secrets... Ana she can't help but feel as much in love as she is terrified while she discovers the shades of Grey.

About the author, Erika Leonard Mitchell

THE JAMES

THE JAMES

Erika Leonard Mitchell was born on March 7, 1963 in Willesden, London, England, the result of the union between a Scottish cameraman and a Chilean woman. As he has reflected on his website, the British literary vocation emerged from a very early age. However, she could not make a living from writing until the publication and subsequent resounding success of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2011.

Education, first jobs and personal life

Mitchell lived most of his childhood and adolescence in Buckinghamshire, a historic county bordering the south-east of the Greater London administrative area. In that locality, He attended primary school at Pipers Corner School and high school at Wycombe High School (both private girls-only institutions). Subsequently, studied history at the University of Kent.

After graduation, Mitchell worked at the Beaconsfield National Film and Television School. Later, He continued his career in audiovisual companies until he held executive positions. In 1987, she married the Northern Irish novelist and screenwriter Niall Leonard, with whom she has two children and lives in Brentford, near the north-west edge of London.

Literary trajectory

La saga Twilight by Stephanie Meyers stoked Mitchell's literary streak. What's more, the English writer has stated in various media that she began writing two novels based on some characters from the aforementioned trilogy. Then, in August 2009, she noted how active the writing community of “fanfiction”—fans who write fiction—on the internet.

Thus, a series called Masters of the Universe, published on the Fanfiction.net website under the alias “Snowqueen's Icedragon”. Eventually, those stories would become Fifty Shades Gray, self-published in 2011. The following year the sequels appeared Fifty Shades Darker (50 shades darker) y Fifty Shades Freed (50 shadows released).

Other books by EL James

  • Grey: Fifty Shades of Gray as Told by Christian (2015);
  • Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian (2017);
  • The Mister (2019);
  • Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian (2021)

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