Canadian-Hungarian-British author David Szalay has won the Booker Prize for Literature for his novel "The Flesh," in which he addresses themes of masculinity, social inequality, and the distribution of power.
The book, which is the sixth work in the career of the 52-year-old writer, tells the story of a young Hungarian named István, a member of the working class. After serving in the army, he leaves his homeland and moves to London, where he finds work for wealthy people.
The novel raises important questions related to manifestations of masculinity, class differences, and power. David Szalay himself noted that he aimed to create a work about "modern Europe, its cultural and economic contrasts."
2025 Booker Prize Nominees
In addition to David Szalay, the shortlist for the Booker Prize includes five other authors. Among them are three Americans: Benjamin Markovits with the book "The Rest of Our Lives," Susan Choi with the novel "Flashlight," and Katie Kitamura, author of "Audition." Also competing for the prize were British writer Andrew Miller with the novel "The Land in Winter" and Indian author Kiran Desai with the book "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny."
It is worth noting that David Szalay was previously nominated for the Booker Prize in 2016 for the novel All That Man Is.
About the Booker Prize
The Booker Prize has been awarded since 1969. Since 2014, any English-language writers whose works are published in the United Kingdom can compete for the award. The monetary prize amounts to £50,000 (approximately €57,000).
In 2024, the award was won by British writer Samantha Harvey for her novel "On Orbit" — a story about one day in the lives of six astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Leave a comment