Flesh (Szalay novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | March 6, 2025 |
| Founder | David Szalay |
| Products | Fiction novel |
| Website | www |
Flesh, released in 2025, marks the sixth novel by David Szalay. It narrates the ascent of István, a young man from Hungary whose impulsive choices propel him from juvenile detention and military duty to a wealthy socialite status in London. Despite his newfound affluence, István’s unchanged demeanor generates friction within his newly formed family.
The novel received acclaim for its concise prose, gripping storyline, and the reserved nature of its main character, although some reviewers noted the absence of significant life moments and István’s limited verbal expression.
Awarded the 2025 Booker Prize, the work was praised by judging panel leader Roddy Doyle for its distinctive storytelling approach, emphasizing how its minimalistic style invites readers to engage deeply with the protagonist.
Plot
The narrative traces István’s journey from a timid teenager living in a Hungarian housing project to joining Europe’s wealthiest elite, followed by a period of financial downturn. His life is marked by numerous transformations.
At fifteen years old, István enters a contentious relationship with a 42-year-old married woman. Following an altercation that results in her husband’s death, István is held responsible and subsequently spends time in juvenile detention before serving as a soldier during the Iraq War, experiences that build his resilience.
Later on, he finds employment in private security and becomes a driver for an affluent family in London. Immersed in their luxurious lifestyle—complete with private jets and exclusive dining—he engages in an affair with the young wife. After the husband passes away naturally, István marries her but encounters hostility from his new stepson.
Protagonist
Despite his rise in social standing, István remains "rough, uncommunicative and uncultured." He is depicted as emotionally underdeveloped, primarily forming connections through physical intimacy while harboring a persistent "latent violent impulse." His existence often feels passive and shaped by past trauma.
Guided more by instinct than contemplation, István’s speech is sparse and mundane; he tends to respond rather than initiate dialogue. This leads to "almost humorously minimal" exchanges characterized by brief answers such as "Okay."
Gradually, István gains increased empathy, allowing for more profound relationships and enhancing reader investment. The author aimed to emphasize life as fundamentally a bodily experience that informs all other dimensions.
Publication history
Flesh was released on 6 March 2025 by Jonathan Cape in the United Kingdom and on 1 April 2025 by Scribner in the United States.
Critical reception
The book garnered predominantly favorable critiques and secured the 2025 Booker Prize. Roddy Doyle, who chaired the judging panel, described it as "a dark book yet a pleasure to read." Judge Sarah Jessica Parker referred to it as "hypnotically tense and compelling" and "an extraordinarily moving depiction of a man’s existence."
The Associated Press highlighted Szalay’s "direct, economical prose" that allows scenes to unfold naturally, telling a tragic tale. The Boston Globe called it "a gentle but profoundly affecting story about a taciturn man overcoming hardship and loss to find fleeting peace." On the Seawall commended it as "a perceptive novel that uses silence to convey depth," while The Wall Street Journal pointed out how minimal internal monologue produces a mesmerizing effect. Singer Dua Lipa chose Flesh for her monthly book club, praising it as "a tense and captivating read" despite its sparse detail.
Regarding character portrayal, The Sunday Times labeled it "a revelatory work prompting reconsideration of every Eastern European doorman or bouncer you meet."
In a more mixed critique, The New York Times reviewer Dwight Garner described the novel as "a cool, detached exploration of male isolation," admiring it without full enthusiasm. Some commentators, including Cal Revely-Calder from The Daily Telegraph, contended that modern fiction editors lack sufficient rigor, suggesting Flesh represented "only half the novel it might have been" when compared with other contenders like Kiran Desai's The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny or Andrew Miller's The Land in Winter.
Film adaptation
In November 2025, the film rights were secured by House Productions in collaboration with BBC Film and Access Entertainment.
See also
- The Luck of Barry Lyndon, a novel featuring a comparable protagonist
External links
- Flesh by David Szalay, published by Penguin Books, March 2025
- Flesh: David Szalay's novel from Simon & Schuster, April 2025
- David Szalay discusses the Inarticulacy of Experience. The New Yorker. December 2024
- "Plaster": A short story by David Szalay. The New Yorker. December 2024