David Szalay has won prestigious Booker Prize for 2025 for their novel, Flesh.

The book (which is Szalay's sixth)  rose above a shortlist of compelling voices and styles – from global journeys to intimate psychological landscapes – each one standing out in unique an bold ways.

The Booker Prize was presented in London, with all six finalists in attendance for the occasion – including Flesh by David Szalay; The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller; The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits; Audition by Katie Kitamura; The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai; and Flashlight by Susan Choi. Also in attendance were this years judges, including Sarah Jessica Parker (yes, Carrie Bradshaw), who famously read two books per day to prepare for the role, as well as Roddy Doyle, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Kiley Reid, and Chris Power.

What is Flesh about?

The novel charts the life of teenager István, from an isolated teenager to adulthood, as he is "unravelled by a series of events beyond his grasp." Among them, time spent serving in the military, an affair with an older neighbour, immigrating from Hungary to London, and eventually, a return to the town where he grew up.

What does the winner get?

Up for grabs is a £50,000 prize, as well as several eyes on their novel. Previous winners have gone on to reach best-seller status, including Life of Pi by Yann Martel, and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo.

Who else has won the Booker Prize?

Some of the biggest names in publishing have taken home this award before. Among them, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Marlon James, Hilary Mantel, Arundhati Roy and Roddy Doyle – who is the chair of this year's judging panel.