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According to information published by the "Russian Service of the BBC," the jury noted the novel "Flesh" as "extraordinary" and "unlike any other" work. The award ceremony took place in London on Tuesday night, with renowned Irish playwright Roddy Doyle serving as the jury chair.
Doyle mentioned that the discussion of the shortlist lasted over five hours. "Flesh" stood out among other works due to its uniqueness. "We have never encountered anything like it. Although the book is dark, it is incredibly engaging," he added.
This novel is the sixth in David Salé's career and tells the story of a young Hungarian named István, who goes through various stages of life—from a modest Hungarian neighborhood to the world of the wealthy in London.
Roddy Doyle also emphasized that "Flesh" masterfully utilizes the empty space on the pages, allowing the reader to fill it with their own thoughts and experiences. "Every word here matters, and even the spaces between words are important. This book is about life and the oddities of existence, and reading it makes us rejoice in our being," he noted.
Salé himself described his novel as an exploration of "modern Europe and cultural, economic differences." "I found it difficult to determine where to start writing. 'Flesh' seemed to come together on its own. I wanted to reflect my feelings living between Hungary and England," the author shared.
Previously, David Salé was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2016 with the novel "All That Man Is."
In the 2025 shortlist, alongside Salé, five other authors were included: Americans Benjamin Markovits ("The Rest of Our Lives"), Susan Choi ("Flashlight"), Katie Kitamura ("Audition"), British Andrew Miller ("The Land in Winter"), and Indian writer Kiran Desai ("The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny").
David Salé (center) with jury members (left to right): Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Power, Ayobami Adebayo, Kylie Reid, and jury chair Roddy Doyle during the 2025 Booker Prize ceremony. Photo by Getty Images.
The jury included celebrities such as actress Sarah Jessica Parker, writer and critic Chris Power, Nigerian writer Ayobami Adebayo, American author Kylie Reid, and chair Roddy Doyle.
Last year, the prize was awarded to the novel "Orbit" by English writer Samantha Harvey, which tells the story of a day in the life of six astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
