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Hungarian-British Author Wins Prestigious Booker Prize for 'Flesh'
11 Nov
Summary
- David Szalay wins 2025 Booker Prize for novel 'Flesh'
- Book explores ordinary man's life over decades
- Judges praise sparse writing that reveals much
On November 11, 2025, Hungarian-British author David Szalay was awarded the Booker Prize for his novel "Flesh," a captivating exploration of an ordinary man's life over several decades. The 51-year-old writer beat out five other finalists, including favorites Andrew Miller and Kiran Desai, to claim the coveted literary prize.
The judges, led by Irish author Roddy Doyle, were unanimous in their selection of "Flesh" as the winner. They praised the book's sparse yet revealing writing, which allows readers to learn about the central character, István, despite the gaps in his story. Doyle noted that the novel presents a type of working-class man often overlooked in fiction, inviting readers to look beyond the surface.
Szalay, who was born in Canada, raised in the U.K., and now lives in Vienna, was previously a Booker finalist in 2016 for his work "All That Man Is." With the win, he receives a 50,000-pound ($66,000) prize and a significant boost to his sales and profile.
