David Szalay Wins for Flesh – The Irish Times
Summary of the Article: David Szalay Wins the 2024 Booker Prize for “Flesh“
David szalay has won the 2024 Booker Prize for his novel “Flesh,” receiving a £50,000 prize. The novel is described as a “lean, propulsive and compelling portrait of a man unravelled by events beyond his grasp,” following istván’s life from his youth in Hungary to his later years among London’s wealthy.
The judging panel, chaired by Roddy Doyle (the first previous winner to chair the judges), praised the book’s singularity and unique style. Doyle highlighted the effective use of “white space” in the writing, inviting readers to actively participate in creating the character of István. The judges were struck by how the novel conveyed emotion and character through what wasn’t said, rather than explicit description.
Other judges included Sarah Jessica Parker, Ayobami Adébayo, Chris Power, and kiley Reid.
A review in the Irish Times by John Boyne called “Flesh” “compulsively readable” and Szalay’s best novel yet.