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Library/Book/Fifty Shades of Grey
Grade B16 sourcesHIS-01228

Fifty Shades of Grey

Book · 2011 · Notable

46Editable slideCertificate

A fan-fiction rewrite sold a million UK paperbacks.

Official Fifty Shades of Grey book cover from the author’s website.
E L James
E L James at the London Book Fair in 2019.
ActuaLitté, CC BY-SA 2.0

Spread Score

How it works
ReachNo data yetContagionNo data yetBreadth50Velocity8Longevity8046

Numbers

Milestone date
Jun 2012
May 2011 to Jun 2012
Platforms
5
Started on Open web
Origin
Mixed
Entertainment

Mechanics

  • Platform jumpPrimary
  • Press loop
  • Controversy

How it spread

Trace the origin

James rewrote Twilight fan fiction for a small press. Reader reviews and news coverage preceded Vintage's rollout. UK paperback sales broke records; the later UK rollout included paid promotion.

Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Google searchesApr ’09SepSep ’10Aug ’11Mar ’12MayAugDecOct ’14Nov ’16Dec ’18Apr ’20MilestoneOpen webPressXRetailAudio
Open webPressXRetailAudio

9 more events on this chart

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Timeline (12)

  1. August 2009

    E L James precursor · Aug 2009

    James began posting Twilight fan fiction titled Master of the Universe on FanFiction.net.[1]

  2. May 2011

    E L James / The Writer's Coffee Shop seed · May 2011

    The small press released the rewritten novel as an ebook and print-on-demand paperback.[2][1][3]

  3. January 2012

    Publishers Weekly press · Jan 9 ’12

    Publishers Weekly reported Goodreads word of mouth and interest from Hollywood scouts.[4]

  1. owner response · Mar 12 ’12

  2. commercial · Mar 26 ’12

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Entertainment
Region
GB
Reported figure
—
Evidence
Grade B

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.