David Szalay Wins 2025 Booker Prize for Novel "Flesh"

Canadian-Hungarian-British author David Szalay has won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh, which explores the life of Istvan, an emotionally distant Hungarian man, across decades and countries. Praised for its minimalist style and innovative use of white space, the novel delves into themes of class, migration, intimacy, and masculinity. Szalay, 51, beat five other finalists, including Kiran Desai, earning £50,000 and becoming the first author of Hungarian heritage to win the prize. Flesh is celebrated as a moving, powerful narrative highlighting personal and cultural divides.