Canadian writer David Szalay has been named as one of the six authors shortlisted for the esteemed 2025 Booker Prize. The annual award, valued at £50,000 (approximately $92,000 CAD), celebrates exceptional original novels written in English and published in the U.K.
Hailing from Montreal, Szalay’s nominated work, “Flesh,” delves into the life of István, a 15-year-old entangled in a tumultuous affair with a married woman, leading to a downward spiral. As István matures, he embarks on a reckless journey, momentarily fulfilling his desires until they threaten to consume him entirely.
Szalay, known for his previous Booker Prize shortlisted novel “All That Man Is” in 2016, has a repertoire that includes acclaimed works like “Turbulence” and “London and the South-East,” which garnered literary accolades. Currently residing in Vienna, Szalay stands as the sole Canadian contender in the race for this prestigious literary honor.
In a separate literary event, Maria Reva, a British Columbia-based author, was longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize for her debut novel “Endling.” Additionally, Reva’s novel has made its way onto the shortlist for the Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, further solidifying her presence in the literary realm.
The Booker Prize jury for this year, led by Irish novelist Roddy Doyle, features a diverse panel including Nigerian novelist Ayobami Adebayo, British critic Chris Power, writer Kiley Reid, and renowned American actress Sarah Jessica Parker, known for her iconic role in “Sex and the City.”
The shortlisted novels for the 2025 Booker Prize include “Flashlight” by Susan Choi, “The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny” by Kiran Desai, “Audition” by Katie Kitamura, “The Rest of Our Lives” by Ben Markovits, “The Land in Winter” by Andrew Miller, and Szalay’s “Flesh.”
The winner of the 2025 Booker Prize will be revealed during the award ceremony on November 10 at Old Billingsgate in London. Notably, the Booker Prize has been open to authors of all nationalities since 2013, with past Canadian victors including Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje.
Stay tuned to witness the crowning of the next literary luminary at the upcoming Booker Prize ceremony, where exceptional storytelling and literary finesse take center stage.
