David Szalay Discusses His Booker Prize-Winning Novel 'Flesh'

The Genesis of 'Flesh'

• 💡 David Szalay abandoned a previous novel after two years and 80,000 words, finding it fundamentally unworkable.
• 🌱 The inspiration for 'Flesh' emerged from a desire to write a book partly set in Hungary and England, focusing on life as a physical experience.
• 🗺️ Szalay, having lived in Hungary and grown up in England, aimed to capture the feeling of being an outsider in both countries.

Character and Narrative of Istvan

• 🎯 The novel's first chapter, written in a detached, pared-down style, focuses on a 15-year-old Hungarian boy, Istvan, and his relationship with an older neighbor.
• 🧠 Istvan's initial engagement with the relationship stems from loneliness, confusion, and fascination, leading to a voyage of self-discovery.
• 💬 While Istvan is not highly articulate, Szalay emphasizes that the novel explores his physical experiences rather than an extensive inner monologue.
• ⏳ The narrative spans Istvan's life from age 15 to approximately 60, employing oblique storytelling and time jumps.

Themes of Wealth, Identity, and Experience

• 🌍 'Flesh' explores themes of wealth and power in contemporary Europe, with Istvan moving from Eastern to Western Europe.
• 💰 Istvan, initially an economic migrant, becomes a personal driver for a wealthy family and later becomes wealthy himself, remaining non-judgmental about wealth.
• 🎭 Szalay deliberately minimized physical descriptions of Istvan, focusing on his essence as a person and allowing readers to infer his appeal.
• 🚶 Istvan is characterized as a loner who is comfortable being alone, though he seeks intimacy.

Winning the Booker Prize

• ✨ The announcement of winning the Booker Prize was a dreamlike, out-of-body experience for Szalay.
• 📈 Winning the prize is expected to significantly boost book sales and bring attention to his other works.
• 🏆 Szalay views the Booker Prize as a prestigious award, offering validation and recognition that most novelists crave.
• ✍️ He is currently working on a new book, aiming to complete it within a year, having learned from the experience of abandoning his previous project.