Fifty Shades of Grey Summary: What the Book Is About
Fifty Shades of Grey is an erotic romance about Anastasia Steele, a college student, and Christian Grey, a young billionaire. After she interviews him for a student paper, the two begin a relationship that he wants to run under a contract, with him as the dominant partner and her as the submissive.
The book follows her attempts to decide how much of that arrangement she can accept, and how much more she wants from him.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | E. L. James |
| First published | 2011 |
| Genre | Erotic romance |
| Main characters | Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey |
| Setting | Seattle, Washington area |
| Length | About 500 pages |
| Next book | Fifty Shades Darker |
How does the story begin?
Anastasia (Ana) Steele is a 21-year-old literature student who is about to graduate. When her roommate Kate Kavanagh falls ill, Ana goes in her place to interview Christian Grey, the 27-year-old head of a large company in Seattle, for the student newspaper.
The interview is awkward, but both are attracted to each other. Christian starts to appear in her life, and she is drawn to him despite finding him controlling and secretive.
↑ Back to the topWhat is the arrangement he proposes?
Christian tells Ana that he does not do ordinary romance. He wants a sexual relationship in which he is the dominant partner and she the submissive, governed by a written contract that sets out rules and limits.
Ana, who has no experience, is both interested and uneasy. She negotiates, and they spend time together outside the contract while she tries to learn who he is.
↑ Back to the topWhat is the conflict?
Ana wants affection and a real relationship, and Christian says he cannot offer one. Hints about his difficult childhood and past explain part of his behavior, but he keeps most of it private.
The tension between his need for control and her wish for emotional closeness is the center of the book.
↑ Back to the topHow does the first book end?
Ana asks Christian to show her how far his dominant side goes. What follows is more than she can accept, and she ends the relationship and leaves in tears. The book ends there, which sets up the sequel, Fifty Shades Darker.
↑ Back to the topMore about Fifty Shades of Grey
This guide covers the novels. It contains adult themes, and the films differ from the books in places.