Flesh - David Szalay

A Booker Prize–Winning Masterpiece

Flesh by David Szalay, winner of the Booker Prize 2025, is a razor-sharp, hypnotic novel that traces the unraveling and transformation of a man shaped by forces far beyond his control. With Szalay’s signature realism and psychological precision, the novel explores what drives a life forward—and what breaks it apart.

From a Lonely Boy to a Man Swept Into Power

Fifteen-year-old István lives quietly with his mother in a Hungarian apartment complex. Shy and unsure of himself, he struggles to navigate school life and soon becomes isolated—until a married neighbor becomes his only confidant. Their secret encounters mark the beginning of a tumultuous path he is not prepared for, sending his life spinning out of control.

As the years pass, István is drawn into the rising currents of twenty-first-century money and influence. He moves from the army to the inner circles of London’s ultra-rich, driven by conflicting desires for love, intimacy, status, and wealth. His ascent brings unimaginable rewards—until the very impulses that carried him upward threaten to destroy him completely.

Spare, Penetrating, and Unforgettable

With prose that is lean yet devastatingly perceptive, Szalay exposes the invisible pressures that shape human choices. Flesh confronts the raw edges of desire, ambition, vulnerability, and the fragile nature of identity in a world defined by power.

Main Themes of the Book

• Identity, desire, and self-destruction
• Social mobility and moral boundaries
• Isolation and emotional development
• Power, wealth, and human relationships
• Contemporary European realism
• What makes a life meaningful—and what shatters it

Why You Should Read This Book by David Szalay

• Winner of the 2025 Booker Prize
• Deep psychological insight and stunning realism
• Ideal for readers of contemporary, character-driven literary fiction
• Raises profound questions about ambition, trauma, desire, and belonging
• Written by David Szalay, one of the most acclaimed modern novelists

Flesh is a powerful, haunting exploration of human nature, following István’s journey from adolescent confusion to the dangerous heights of modern power. With its emotional depth, moral complexity, and sharp realism, it is a novel that lingers long after the final page. A must-read for anyone seeking literary fiction of the highest caliber.