David Szalay: Flesh
About this episode
David Szalay discusses his novel Flesh and the complexities of identity and self in a cross-cultural context.
In a novel, the words on the page are our entrance into another’s mind. But sometimes it’s the space between the lines that define a character. In David Szalay’s 2025 Booker Prize–winning Flesh , István is caught between the boundaries of Hungary and England, his teenage years and adulthood, his body and sense of self and desire and indifference. With spare, propulsive prose, David paints an intimate portrait of a man slowly unravelling as he asks profound questions about the strangeness of being. Hear David trace the evolution of his singular novel and its protagonist, in conversation with Michelle de Kretser. This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms. After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media: Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Host: Michelle de Kretser
Guest: David Szalay
Topics covered
- literature
- identity
- coming of age
- mental health
- cross-cultural experiences
Keywords
- David Szalay
- Flesh
- identity
- Hungary
- England
- Booker Prize
- literature
- Sydney Writers' Festival
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Flesh
Places: Hungary, England
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