David Szalay wins the 2023 Booker Prize for Flesh in London!

David Szalay wins the 2023 Booker Prize for Flesh in London!

Yesterday the prestigious Booker Prize 2023 was awarded to David Szalay for his captivating novel “Flesh”. The award, worth 50,000 pounds (equivalent to approximately 56,747.25 euros), was awarded by a jury led by well-known author Roddy Doyle. Szalay accepted the trophy from last year's winner Samantha Harvey on Monday evening in London. The author, who was born in Montreal in 1974, now lives in Vienna and was praised for his special style of storytelling. Back in 2016, he was able to lure the jury onto the shortlist for the Booker Prize with his work “What a Man Is”.

“Flesh” tells the gripping story of the loner István, who leads an eventful life from Hungarian prefabricated buildings to the London elite. The jury praised the book as “hypnotizing” and “captivating”, especially the reduced prose that characterizes Szalay. István is described as physical, impulsive, callous and one of the most taciturn characters in literature. The German translation of “Flesh”, entitled “What cannot be said”, was translated into German by Henning Ahrens.

A diverse background

David Szalay, who has a Hungarian father and a Canadian mother, has published six books in his career that have been translated into over 20 languages. He studied literature at Oxford University and worked for many years in London and Budapest before settling in Vienna. This international experience is reflected in his works and makes them accessible to a wide audience.

But something exciting is not only happening in literature: there is also something new to report in the world of technology. WhatsApp is currently testing a feature called Media Hub, which will give users quick access to recently shared media, links and documents from all chats. This new feature is intended to increase usability by allowing users to sort content by date or file size instead of scrolling through endless chats. So a lot comes together when it comes to digital communication and could be helpful, especially in today's fast-moving times.

A look into the future

While Szalay's literary successes captivate people, technological progress does not stand still either. In the political sphere, Cory Booker, who has served as New Jersey senator since 2013, has recently caused a stir. Booker has made a name for himself with a variety of legislative efforts, from supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to introducing the Marijuana Justice Act. His views and initiatives show how important it is to think progressively in modern society.

With Szalay and Booker, two interesting figures come to the center of our interest - one in literature, the other in politics. They both influence cultural and social events in their own way and show that creativity and commitment know no limits. In Vienna, where Szalay lives, you will not only find exciting literature, but also a place that connects with the pulse of the world.