British-Hungarian writer David Szalay wins £50,000 Booker Prize for “Flesh,” beating Kiran Desai and Andrew Miller in London ceremony.
LONDON: British-Hungarian author David Szalay has won the prestigious Booker Prize for his novel “Flesh,” a tortured exploration of masculinity.
The 52-year-old writer claimed the £50,000 award during a ceremony in London on Monday, beating favourites including previous winner Kiran Desai and British novelist Andrew Miller.
Szalay’s winning work tells the story of a Hungarian emigre who builds and loses a fortune while navigating complex relationships and wartime experiences.
“Flesh” represents Szalay’s sixth novel and continues his examination of masculine identity through challenging narratives.
The protagonist moves from Hungarian military service to working for London’s ultra-wealthy elite before fighting in Iraq.
His troubled journey includes affairs with older women and the psychological toll of his experiences.
Szalay had previously been shortlisted for the 2016 Booker Prize for his work “All That Man Is.”
This year’s shortlist featured six novels including Desai’s “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny” and works by other established authors.
The judging panel included chair Roddy Doyle, himself a former Booker winner, and “Sex and the City” actor Sarah Jessica Parker.
Last year’s prize went to British writer Samantha Harvey for her space station novel “Orbital.” – AFP
