“Very special book” championed by Dua Lipa wins Booker Prize 2025

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British-Hungarian author David Szalay has won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh.

István Szalay’s latest novel, following one man’s life from his younger years to middle age, has won a major award. Roddy Doyle, who won the same prize in 1993, announced the unanimous decision of the judging panel.

Doyle highlighted the book ‘Flesh’ as truly unique, stating, ‘It really stands apart from anything else I’ve read.’ Despite its dark themes, the team all enjoyed the reading experience.

This year’s discussion panel included actress Sarah Jessica Parker, alongside authors Chris Power, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, and Kiley Reid. The book has also been lauded by musicians Dua Lipa and Stormzy.

Dua Lipa described the book as captivating and suspenseful when she selected it for her book club last month. Additionally, Stormzy filmed a reading from the book that was shown as a short film at this year’s event.

Szalay received the award at a ceremony in London on Monday, November 10th, and shared that writing the book had been a challenging and uncertain experience.

Speaking to the audience, he explained that taking risks was essential. He emphasized the importance of fiction – and novels specifically – embracing experimentation with style, structure, and even challenging themes. He believed this willingness to take chances was a vital part of the art form.

He admitted the writing process was difficult, and he didn’t handle the pressure well. He says his wife was the only one who saw how he struggled, and he expressed his gratitude to her for going through it with him.

Flesh traces the life of István, from his youth into old age, as he navigates a series of overwhelming experiences and struggles with emotional connection. The story examines themes of what it means to be a man, the impact of social class, the dynamics of power, the search for intimacy, and the challenges of moving to a new place.

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2025-11-11 20:22