David Szalay has claimed the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh, a powerful story that shines a spotlight on a working-class life often overlooked in literature.
The novel follows István, a man growing up in a Hungarian social housing estate, tracing his journey from adolescence to an unexpected life among London’s elite. Judges praised Szalay for capturing the emotional depth and humanity of a character usually invisible in fiction.
Roddy Doyle, chair of the judging panel, said the book “homes in on a working-class man, which ordinarily doesn’t get much of a look in,” adding that it “invites us to look behind the face” of ordinary people.
Szalay’s minimalist writing style—sparse dialogue and blank spaces reflecting grief—immerses readers in István’s internal world. Doyle highlighted that, while Flesh is “dark,” it remains a joy to read because of its honesty and unflinching portrayal of life, rather than a conventional redemptive arc.
The win signals a wider cultural shift, as literature increasingly values stories of class, migration, and nuanced masculinity. By honoring Flesh, the Booker Prize recognizes the literary power in telling quiet yet challenging stories from society’s margins.
Other shortlisted novels included Susan Choi’s Flashlight, Kiran Desai’s The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Katie Kitamura’s Audition, Ben Markovits’s The Rest of Our Lives, and Andrew Miller’s The Land in Winter.
