David Szalay’s ‘Flesh’ Wins 2025 Booker Prize

Published: 12 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

The Booker Prize for 2025 has officially crowned Flesh by David Szalay as its winner — a novel the judges hailed as “a very special book.” The announcement was made in London on Monday evening, where an audience of writers, critics, and cultural figures gathered to celebrate one of the most prestigious awards in the literary world.

This year’s judging panel brought together an eclectic mix of voices, including Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker, acclaimed Nigerian author Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, literary critic Chris Power, and Booker Prize-longlisted author Kiley Reid. The panel was chaired by celebrated Irish novelist and dramatist Roddy Doyle, whose leadership helped shape the final decision from an exceptionally strong shortlist.

Unlike some previous years that featured debut or emerging writers, the 2025 shortlist showcased only established authors, each with an impressive literary pedigree. It included previous Booker winner Kiran Desai, two-time nominee Andrew Miller, as well as Susan Choi, Katie Kitamura, and Ben Markovits. Yet, it was Szalay’s haunting and unflinching novel Flesh that ultimately captured the judges’ unanimous admiration.

Roddy Doyle described the novel as “a dark book, but one that’s deeply rewarding.” In his remarks, he added, “What we particularly liked about Flesh was its singularity. It’s not like any other book we’ve read this year — sparse, profound, and utterly human.”

The announcement drew excitement across the literary community and beyond. Pop culture figures also joined in the praise — Flesh has been a recent selection in Dua Lipa’s book club, and rapper Stormzy even recorded an extract from the novel that was featured during this year’s award ceremony.

Flesh is an intimate yet sweeping portrait of masculinity, money, and emotional solitude. It follows the life of István, a quiet and stoic man, from his youth in Hungary to the twilight of his years in London. Beginning in a modest apartment complex, István’s story unfolds as he navigates forbidden relationships, class mobility, and the lingering effects of trauma.

As a teenager, István becomes entangled in an illicit affair with a lonely, married neighbor — a relationship that sets off a chain of events defining the rest of his life. Later, after serving in the army and enduring post-traumatic stress, he rises into London’s elite circles almost by accident. Yet, beneath the polished exterior, he remains haunted by guilt and the ghosts of his past.

Szalay’s restrained prose brings remarkable emotional weight to every moment. Without sentimentality or flourish, Flesh achieves what many novels attempt but few accomplish — it leaves readers emotionally undone while offering quiet, devastating insight into the human soul.

Critics have been effusive in their praise since Flesh’s release earlier this year. Many have called it Szalay’s finest work, placing it alongside his earlier Booker-shortlisted All That Man Is (2016). Literary commentators have noted how the novel’s austere tone and sharp focus on human fragility mirror Szalay’s distinctive style — sparse but never shallow.

Following the Booker announcement, online retailers such as Amazon have already reported a surge in sales, with Flesh now discounted by 22% as thousands of new readers rush to experience the novel that’s being hailed as the year’s defining literary achievement.

David Szalay’s victory marks a continuation of the Booker Prize’s tradition of celebrating introspective and socially resonant storytelling. In a year dominated by global uncertainty, shifting identities, and post-pandemic realities, Flesh feels particularly timely. It confronts the loneliness of modern existence, the illusions of success, and the psychological scars men often carry in silence.

For readers and critics alike, Szalay’s work stands out not for its spectacle but for its quiet precision. It asks uncomfortable questions: What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How much of ourselves do we lose in pursuit of comfort or success? And can anyone ever truly escape their past?

Speaking after the ceremony, Szalay expressed both humility and disbelief. “I didn’t expect Flesh to connect the way it has,” he said. “It’s a book about the small details that make up a life — the things we rarely say but always feel. To have that recognized in this way means the world to me.”

He also thanked his editor, his readers, and his family, noting that the writing process was “a long, lonely road — but one that ultimately brought light.”

In the weeks and months ahead, Flesh is expected to dominate literary discussions, book clubs, and year-end reading lists. With its Booker Prize win, Szalay joins a distinguished list of previous laureates, including Margaret Atwood, Hilary Mantel, and Kazuo Ishiguro.

But beyond the awards and accolades, Flesh’s true triumph lies in its quiet power — a novel that demands reflection long after the final page. For those looking to immerse themselves in a story both intellectually rigorous and emotionally resonant, Flesh is more than just a prize-winning book; it’s an experience that lingers.