Flesh

At fifteen, István lives with his mother in an apartment in Hungary. He feels isolated and is drawn into a secret affair with his neighbour, a much older married woman. He gets into a fight with her husband, who ends up being killed. After spending some years in juvenile detention and serving in the army for a few years during the Iraq war, István drifts through a series of odd jobs, never settling anywhere. He later emigrates to London, where he works in various low-paid jobs in private security. He then becomes a bouncer and chauffeur for a well-to-do family in London. Over time he becomes part of their lives, including their luxurious lifestyle, and has an affair with his employer’s young wife. After her husband dies, she marries István, although István’s new stepson despises him. Years later, he visits Hungary again and looks back at his life. Szalay has written a compelling book, which won the Booker Prize in 2025.