Flesh | David Szalay | 2025 Booker Prize | Books to read

Flesh (2025) by David Szalay traces the life of István, a taciturn Hungarian man whose impulsive decisions carry him from troubled youth and poverty to unexpected wealth and social status in London. Despite outward success, he remains emotionally detached, shaped by trauma, instinct, and physical experience. Sparely written and episodic, the novel explores masculinity, alienation, class, and the limits of language in capturing inner life.