It has been translated into 52 languages and set a record in the United Kingdom as the fastest-selling paperback of all time. Originally self-published as an ebook and print-on-demand in June 2011, the publishing rights to the novel were acquired by Vintage Books in March 2012.įifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world. The 'Fifty Shades' series is categorized as dark romance literature due to its romantic elements in the plot and the complexity of interpersonal relationships. This genre typically involves intricate and dramatic plots, delving into complex and profound emotional relationships, along with possibly exploring unconventional or thought-provoking themes. 'The Fifty Shades' series belongs to the genre of dark romance. It contains explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual practices involving BDSM ( bondage/ discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism). It became the first instalment in the Fifty Shades novel series that follows the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a young business magnate, Christian Grey. Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2011 erotic romance novel by British author E.