Flesh

Flesh follows István, a Hungarian man, through a rags-to-riches life. He lives impulsively, making decisions without thinking them through. A sexual awakening, time in juvenile detention, military service and a series of menial jobs come before his arrival in London, where he becomes a rich, married socialite.

That life brings him some contentment, but his personality causes conflict with his new family. The novel is set in Hungary and London. Published in 2025, it is David Szalay’s sixth novel.