Flesh

by David Szalay · 2025

Flesh follows the restless life of István, a shy Hungarian teenager whose early years are marked by isolation and a secret liaison with an older neighbour. As the years unfold, he drifts from the rigid world of the army into the glittering corridors of London’s elite, buoyed by a mix of ambition, love, and the unpredictable generosity—or self‑interest—of those around him. Through a series of unforeseen events that continually reshape his path, István confronts the paradox of modern success: the lure of wealth and status against the yearning for genuine intimacy and meaning. David Szalay’s spare, penetrating prose renders a hypnotic portrait of a man perpetually at odds with the roles imposed upon him, asking what truly drives a life worth living and what can ultimately unravel it.