Interesting observation
Yesterday I discovered, to my horror, that the Fifty Shades trilogy has been translated into Dutch. This makes it a lot more likely I'll run into it in RL situations with non-fannish types. I'd like to think colleagues and friends have better taste than that, but I'm not holding out much hope.
Otoh, the difference in description blurbs between English and Dutch is... interesting, to say the least.
English (Source: kobobooks.com)
Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, Fifty Shades of Grey is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you for ever. When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind - until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out. Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view ...
Dutch (Source: kobobooks.com, but also used on Dutch bookstore sites)
Vijftig tinten grijs is het eerste deel van de zinderende trilogie die in Amerika en Engeland al honderdduizenden vrouwen in vuur en vlam heeft gezet. Vijftig tinten grijs vertelt hoe de jonge, onbevangen literatuurstudente Anastasia Steele onverwachts in aanraking komt met de charismatische, mysterieuze miljardair Christian Grey. Ze is direct betoverd door hem, maar probeert hem uit haar hoofd te zetten: hij is te rijk en te hoog gegrepen voor haar. Totdat Grey op een dag ineens in de winkel staat waar ze parttime werkt. Vanaf dat moment zal Christian Grey Anastasia geen moment meer met rust laten. Steeds dieper trekt hij haar zijn wereld van duistere seksuele fantasieën in. Anastasia geniet aanvankelijk zeer van alles wat Grey haar op seksueel gebied leert en van de luxe en rijkdom waarmee hij haar omgeeft. Maar meer en meer krijgt Grey de verliefde Anastasia in zijn macht. Zijn donkerste en diepste wens: totale controle over haar. Christian Grey is verslavend gevaarlijk. Vijftig tinten grijs is het boek waar elke vrouw het over heeft.
The English version sounds a lot more fairy-tale like, whereas the Dutch version is more thriller'ish-and, going by the various critical reviews I've read, a lot more accurate about the stalkerish elements.
Makes one wonder as to why this is, huh?
This entry was originally posted at http://scribblesinink.dreamwidth.org/278816.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
people have commented.
Otoh, the difference in description blurbs between English and Dutch is... interesting, to say the least.
English (Source: kobobooks.com)
Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, Fifty Shades of Grey is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you for ever. When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind - until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out. Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view ...
Dutch (Source: kobobooks.com, but also used on Dutch bookstore sites)
Vijftig tinten grijs is het eerste deel van de zinderende trilogie die in Amerika en Engeland al honderdduizenden vrouwen in vuur en vlam heeft gezet. Vijftig tinten grijs vertelt hoe de jonge, onbevangen literatuurstudente Anastasia Steele onverwachts in aanraking komt met de charismatische, mysterieuze miljardair Christian Grey. Ze is direct betoverd door hem, maar probeert hem uit haar hoofd te zetten: hij is te rijk en te hoog gegrepen voor haar. Totdat Grey op een dag ineens in de winkel staat waar ze parttime werkt. Vanaf dat moment zal Christian Grey Anastasia geen moment meer met rust laten. Steeds dieper trekt hij haar zijn wereld van duistere seksuele fantasieën in. Anastasia geniet aanvankelijk zeer van alles wat Grey haar op seksueel gebied leert en van de luxe en rijkdom waarmee hij haar omgeeft. Maar meer en meer krijgt Grey de verliefde Anastasia in zijn macht. Zijn donkerste en diepste wens: totale controle over haar. Christian Grey is verslavend gevaarlijk. Vijftig tinten grijs is het boek waar elke vrouw het over heeft.
The English version sounds a lot more fairy-tale like, whereas the Dutch version is more thriller'ish-and, going by the various critical reviews I've read, a lot more accurate about the stalkerish elements.
Makes one wonder as to why this is, huh?
This entry was originally posted at http://scribblesinink.dreamwidth.org/278816.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
people have commented.