Flesh by David Szalay

Last updated: 13 October 2026

What happens in Flesh

István is fifteen and new to a quiet apartment complex in Hungary, where he lives with his mother. He is shy and isolated, and his only real company is a married neighbour. When the two of them begin a secret relationship, the rest of his life starts to move in directions he does not choose.

The novel then follows him for decades. He goes into the army, then to London, where he works his way into the world of the very rich. Along the way, his wants for love, closeness, status and money bring him a great deal of wealth. Then they start to take it apart again.

Szalay writes it in short, plain scenes and a lot of dialogue. Much of what István feels is never said out loud, so the reader works it out from what he does.

The Booker Prize win

Flesh was named the winner of the Booker Prize 2025 on 10 November 2025. The judges called it "an astonishingly moving portrait of a man's life". It was also a book of the year for the Guardian, the Observer, the Financial Times and the Sunday Times, according to its publisher.

Szalay was born in Canada, grew up in London and now lives in Vienna. His earlier book All That Man Is was shortlisted for the Booker in 2016, so this was his second time on the shortlist. The full judges' citation is on the Booker Prizes page for Flesh.

Key facts

• Author: David Szalay
• Publisher: Jonathan Cape (hardback), Vintage (paperback)
• Published: hardback 6 March 2025, paperback 19 March 2026
• Length: 368 pages in both editions
• ISBN: 9780224099783 (hardback), 9781529932423 (paperback)
• Prize: winner of the Booker Prize 2025

Hardback or paperback

Both editions are in print and have the same text. On 13 October 2026, Bookshop.org had the hardback at £18.04 and the paperback at £9.49. For a present, the hardback is the one to wrap, since it is the edition that won the prize and it sits better on a shelf. For someone who reads on the train, the paperback is half the price and much lighter.

You can buy the paperback from Bookshop.org as well.

Who it suits as a gift

It suits anyone who reads literary fiction and likes to follow one character over a whole life. It is also a good choice for someone who reads the Booker shortlist each year and missed this one. Because the chapters are short and the prose is plain, it works for a reader who finds dense literary novels hard going.

The limits

István says very little, and some readers find that frustrating rather than moving. If the person you are buying for wants characters who explain themselves, this may not be the book for them. The novel also opens with a sexual relationship between a fifteen-year-old and an adult woman, and it treats sex and violence directly throughout. Think about that before giving it, especially to a younger reader.

Where to buy Flesh in the UK

Amazon UK had the hardback at £14.75, in stock and sold by Amazon. Bookshop.org had it at £18.04, ready to despatch, and every order there supports independent bookshops. For more novels to give, my Book of the Month picks one book a month and says why.

Buy from AmazonBuy from Bookshop.org

FAQs

What is Flesh by David Szalay about?

It follows István from his teenage years in Hungary through the army and on to London's wealthiest circles. Along the way, his wants for love, status and money shape and then threaten his life.

Did Flesh win the Booker Prize?

Yes. It won the Booker Prize 2025, announced on 10 November 2025.

How much does Flesh cost?

The hardback RRP is £18.99. On 13 October 2026, Amazon UK had it at £14.75 and Bookshop.org at £18.04. The paperback was £9.49 at Bookshop.org.

How long is Flesh?

368 pages, in both the hardback and the paperback.

Is Flesh suitable for teenagers?

It is written for adults. It opens with a sexual relationship between a fifteen-year-old and an adult, and it describes sex and violence directly.

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