Booker Prize: David Szalay's Flesh wins 2025 fiction award

Booker Prize: David Szalay's Flesh wins 2025 fiction award

David Szalay has been announced as the winner of this year’s Booker Prize for his novel Flesh, which has been described by judges as “extraordinary” and “a very special book”. Flesh follows the life of a captivating, mysterious, and emotionally detached man as he transitions from living in a Hungarian housing estate to the world of the ultra-rich in London. Roddy Doyle, the chair of the judging panel, highlighted the uniqueness of Flesh, stating that it stands out from other books, despite its dark themes.

Szalay expressed feeling somewhat dazed after clinching the prize, admitting that it would take some time for the win to fully register. Despite initially convincing himself that he wouldn’t win to alleviate stress, he acknowledged the fantastic nature of the accolade. The Booker Prize ceremony featured a short film with an excerpt from the book read by Stormzy, further emphasizing its impact. Dua Lipa, who selected Flesh for her book club, lauded the novel as a “tense and gripping read”.

Critics have showered Flesh with rave reviews, praising Szalay’s minimalist dialogue and descriptions, which reveal profound emotions and themes with simplicity. The narrative style of using blank pages to represent grief has been particularly commended. Booker Prize organizers have lauded Flesh as a thought-provoking exploration of class, power, intimacy, migration, and masculinity, offering a compelling portrait of a man shaped by significant life experiences. Additionally, the judges spent over five hours deliberating the shortlisted novels before unanimously agreeing that Flesh was the standout choice

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More