David Szalay’s ‘Flesh’ Clinches 2025 Booker Prize
David Szalay has won the 2025 Booker Prize for his sixth novel, Flesh. The Hungarian-British author received this prestigious award at a ceremony held on November 10 in London.
Celebration of Literary Excellence
The award was presented by last year’s Booker Prize winner, Samantha Harvey. Szalay’s Flesh was published in April 2025 and explores the life of István, a Hungarian man whose existence is disrupted by various uncontrollable events, starting from his teenage years.
Insights from the Author
- During a discussion with singer Dua Lipa, Szalay revealed the core theme of the novel.
- He emphasized that many people, like István, experience life passively.
- “We’re all acted on by life in a way we can’t control,” Szalay noted.
Previous Acknowledgments
David Szalay was previously a Booker Prize finalist in 2016 for his short story collection, All That Man Is. While it did not win the Booker, it secured the Gordon Burn Prize.
2025 Booker Prize Competition
This year, Szalay triumphed over several notable authors, including:
- Kiran Desai for The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
- Susan Choi for Flashlight
- Katie Kitamura for Audition
- Benjamin Markovits for The Rest of Our Lives
- Andrew Miller for The Land in Winter
Future Plans
When asked about his post-award plans, Szalay mentioned he would return to Vienna. He humorously noted needing to manage his luggage after the ceremony.
