'Mummy porn' is a hit in SA

Johannesburg – South Africans have been snapping up the international book sensation that has been dubbed "mummy porn" due to its combination of romance and erotica.

The Fifty Shades trilogy, written by British writer Erika Mitchell, 49, featured on three top spots of the Exclusive Books' bestseller list, reported Timeslive. The books tell the story of the sexual encounters between an inexperienced student and a powerful businessman.

A local publisher said 30 000 of the books had been sold to book stores. If an adult fiction book sells more than 5 000 copies in SA it is regarded as a bestseller.

'Romantic fantasy'

"These books are gathering momentum and we cannot keep up with the [demand] - as stock comes in, it goes out," said Lyn Riesniek of Random House Struik.

The trilogy has been a huge success overseas with 10 million copies sold already – sales from the first instalment sold better than the Harry Potter series in the UK.

The author, who is a mother of 2 and wrote under the name EL James, said her books were "romantic fantasy" stories that offer women a "holiday from their husbands".

Buy 50 Shades of Grey from kalahari.com.