Fifty Shades of Grey new book: EL James announces fourth novel 'Grey' told through Christian's eyes

The author said the novel was "dedicated to those readers who asked...and asked...and asked for this"

Jamie Dornan plays dominant Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey (Chuck Zlotnick)

“There are two sides to every story,” EL James promised. Now the record-breaking Fifty Shades of Grey author is to revisit the erotic trilogy with a new version, told from Christian Grey’s point of view.

James announced via Instagram that June 18, (Grey’s fictional birthday), would be marked by the publication a new book retelling the affair at the heart of 50 Shades from the perspective of the sadistic billionaire, Grey.

The original books, which have sold 125m copies, are written from the perspective of Anastasia Steele, a college graduate who submits to Grey's bondage-and-discipline fantasies.

Fan fiction writers have already extrapolated from James’ books with their own stories, told via Grey’s eyes.

James said the new novel, titled simply Grey, published following the hit screen adaptation of 50 Shades starring Jamie Dornan, was “dedicated to those readers who asked…and asked…and asked for this.”

Jamie Dornan as Christian and Dakota Johnson as Ana Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey

“Christian is a complex character and readers have always been fascinated by his desires and motivations and his troubled past,” James wrote in a blog. “Also, as anyone who has ever been in a relationship knows, there are two sides to every story.”

The film adaptation had proved fraught with James occasionally locking horns with director Sam Taylor-Johnson. The author said: “It’s been a great pleasure to return to my happy place – writing, being with Christian and Ana in their universe and working with the fantastic team at (publishers) Vintage.”

The new book will explore, through Grey’s perspective, how his disciplined, ordered world came to be upended by Steele. “What is it about her that captivates him? Why can’t he forget her? He is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot command and cannot resist,” James wrote. Grey, will be published simultaneously in the US and UK, by Penguin Random House.

James’s editor Anne Messite said the new novel “has all the compelling attributes of its predecessors, and I can’t wait for 50 Shades fans to experience the work again from a perspective they have long desired.”

The new book will explore, through Grey’s perspective, how his disciplined, ordered world came to be upended by Steele. “What is it about her that captivates him? Why can’t he forget her? He is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot command and cannot resist,” James wrote.

Grey, will be published simultaneously in the US and UK, by Penguin Random House. James’s editor Anne Messite said the new novel “has all the compelling attributes of its predecessors, and I can’t wait for 50 Shades fans to experience the work again from a perspective they have long desired.”

The publishers said the “secrecy and immediacy of the publication” meant that a huge in-store promotional campaign is hastily being put together for the June 18 publication date.

James first announced the new novel by posting the cover in Instagram with the message “Hello all. For those of you who have asked, Christian's POV of #FSOG is published on 18th June for…”

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