• David Szalay wins the Booker Prize for his novel "Flesh".
• The novel explores the life of a Hungarian émigré's struggles and experiences.
• Szalay accepted the award at a ceremony in London, earning a £50,000 prize.
• The Booker Prize has a history of transforming authors' careers.
• Notable judges included Roddy Doyle and Sarah Jessica Parker.

British-Hungarian writer David Szalay has been awarded the esteemed Booker Prize for his novel Flesh, a narrative that delves into the life of a tortured Hungarian émigré navigating his fortunes and struggles. Szalay, 51, triumphed over five other finalists, including notable authors Kiran Desai and Andrew Miller, at the ceremony held in London, securing a £50,000 award, approximately $65,500, for his work, which was selected from 153 submissions according to South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.

The narrative of Flesh follows the protagonist Istvan from his youth through his experiences as an immigrant in the UK and into London high society. It is described as a meditation on themes such as class, power, and masculinity. The judging panel, which included acclaimed personalities like Roddy Doyle and Sarah Jessica Parker, praised the book's “sparse prose” and highlighted its invitation for readers to connect with its central character in a unique manner. Doyle commented on the book’s exceptional quality, stating that, “We had never read anything quite like it,” according to South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.

Szalay's journey to this achievement is notable; he was previously a Booker finalist in 2016 for his work All That Man Is. He expressed gratitude towards his judges during the presentation, stating that he had always perceived his novel as “risky.” Szalay voiced excitement over the book's acceptance, reflecting on his dual identity that influences his writing, explaining that it was his intention to depict the cultural and economic divides of contemporary Europe through Istvan’s perspective according to South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.

The Booker Prize has a renowned history of changing the lives of winners, with past recipients including major literary figures like Salman Rushdie and Ian McEwan. This year’s ceremony reaffirmed that legacy as Szalay's win not only elevates his profile in the literary community but also strengthens the visibility of the themes he explores in Flesh, particularly in regard to immigration and identity in Europe, according to South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.