David Szalay has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh. The award ceremony held in London marked a significant moment as Szalay, a Hungarian-British author, became the first from his heritage to claim this distinguished literary prize. His win surprised many, considering the favorites included Kiran Desai, Andrew Miller, and Benjamin Markovits, with bookmakers initially favoring them. Szalay’s Flesh is a taut and compelling novel that explores masculinity and alienation, tracing the life of an emotionally detached man from a Hungarian housing estate to the elite circles of London. The judging panel praised the novel’s unique style and powerful narrative.
Kiran Desai, shortlisted for her book The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, missed the chance to become only the fifth author to win the Booker Prize twice. Her novel was celebrated for its portrayal of a global love story weaving class, race, and migration across generations. Other shortlisted authors included Susan Choi with Flashlight, Katie Kitamura’s Audition, Andrew Miller’s The Land in Winter, and Benjamin Markovits’s The Rest of Our Lives.
During his acceptance speech, Szalay reflected on the creative risks behind Flesh, noting that the book was born out of a gamble after abandoning another project. He highlighted fiction’s capacity to take aesthetic, formal, and moral risks that other art forms cannot, celebrating those risks as vital to keeping the novel alive. His humble yet touching speech embraced the unpredictability of literary success, sharing a light-hearted moment when he sincerely wondered if a novel titled Flesh could even win such a prestigious award.
The 2025 Booker Prize continues the tradition of recognizing bold, innovative voices in literature, with Flesh lauded for its sharp prose and insightful portrayal of identity and power. The ceremony featured readings and discussions, including contributions from judges Sarah Jessica Parker and Roddy Doyle. The event attracted literary enthusiasts worldwide excited to see a richly diverse and thought-provoking shortlist celebrated.
