“Flesh,” the latest novel by Hungarian-British writer David Szalay, has won the 2025 Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in English-language fiction. The prize, given annually to the best novel written in English and published in the U.K. or Ireland, typically brings international recognition and a significant jump in sales for its winner.
The book follows Istvan, a boy growing up in Hungary who feels constantly out of place. Living with his mother in a concrete apartment block, he struggles to adjust to a new school and forms a secret relationship with a neighbor that he barely understands ? an encounter that sends his life sliding off course. As he grows older, Istvan drifts from the Iraq War to the world of London’s ultra-wealthy, never fully able to anchor himself.
Judges praised “Flesh” as “singular” and “extraordinary,” noting Szalay’s stripped-down style. The novel is written with striking sparsity, with pages filled with short lines of dialogue, wide margins, and long silences. Istvan often responds with clipped phrases like “OK” or “Yeah,” leaving readers to infer what he cannot articulate. Instead of offering explanations, Szalay allows the emotional weight of each scene to emerge through what is left unsaid.
At its core, the novel examines questions about identity, belonging, and what it means to shape a life. Istvan’s search for meaning continues even as his circumstances change and his world becomes more glamorous. “Flesh” suggests that moving “up” in society does not erase past wounds ? and that some experiences remain too complicated or painful to express, even to oneself.
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1. How does Istvan’s transition from Hungary to London highlight the tension between social mobility and unresolved personal challenges?
2. What does Flesh suggest about the limitations of upward mobility in resolving past emotional wounds?
3. When does Istvan experience the most significant disruptions in his life, such as his secret relationship or exposure to war?
4. How does Istvan’s journey from Hungary to London highlight the challenges of reconciling social advancement with unresolved past trauma and ongoing questions about identity and belonging?
1. Do you enjoy novels that explore personal growth, emotional complexity, and the impact of societal pressures over time?
2. Do you consider how your interactions with others reveal your vulnerabilities or shape your sense of belonging?
3. What personal lessons can you draw from Istvan’s journey about identity, resilience, or navigating societal pressures?
4. Why do you think sparse writing and unspoken emotions in novels can make you reflect more deeply personally?
“Flesh,” the latest novel by Hungarian-British writer David Szalay, has won the 2025 Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in English-language fiction. The prize, given annually to the best novel written in English and published in the U.K. or Ireland, typically brings international recognition and a significant jump in sales for its winner.
Judges praised “Flesh” as “singular” and “extraordinary,” noting Szalay’s stripped-down style. The novel is written with striking sparsity, with pages filled with short lines of dialogue, wide margins, and long silences. Istvan often responds with clipped phrases like “OK” or “Yeah,” leaving readers to infer what he cannot articulate. Instead of offering explanations, Szalay allows the emotional weight of each scene to emerge through what is left unsaid.
