The book of David Szalay it is full of existential events, described in a masterly way, which have at their center Istvana man of Hungarian nationality, who by choice and destiny moves into our globalized and borderless world. David Szalay’s book, entitled In the flesh and became an international case, it was published by the publishing house Adelphi. Istvan, in the company of his mother, moves to a Hungarian city, where one lives short love story and intense with the neighbora mature lady. Work, Istvan, once or twice with the husband of the lady in the garden. When the lady decides to end her relationship with the young man, Istvan, in an attempt to enter her house, has a scuffle on the landing with the husbandwho falls on the stairs, hits his head and dies. Istvan, accused of killing a man, ends up locked up in a prison juvenile institutionwhere he remained serving his sentence for three years. Once released and returned to freedom, help a gentleman, whose name is Odon whom he had met in reform school, to carry bags into Croatiawithout ever peeking into them.
He soon discovers that it is the drug he is destined to reach Europe through the safe route to the Balkans. Being jobless, Istvan joins the army. From the Kuwaitwhere he stays with fellow soldiers in a hotel, he moves into Germaniain the American military base located in Ramstein. From here they are led in Iraqwhere a tragedy occurs. In fact, a friend of his, the soldier Rikiwho was on the turret of the military machine gun at the head of the convoy, lost his life due to an explosion. For this reason Istvan decides to abandon military life. When he comes back in Hungary and begins his work in a cellar, where Italian wine is sold, he is often assailed by the awareness that due to the tragic experiences he lived in the theater of war, nothing will be as before and that many of the things that happen in his country for him, now, are devoid of reality and importance. Caught by a violent impulsewhen his mind is dominated by the memory of the tragic death of his friend Riki, Istvan hits the door, an episode of self-harm for which he ends up in analysis by a psychotherapist. The therapist, a kind woman, asks him if he has the moral strength to talk about what happened in Iraq, and explains to him in scientific terms what post traumatic stress is, which upsets his mind.
A Londonwhere he now works in a local security service, after the end of his working day, near a bookshop, Istvan saves a mature lady who, in a dark alley, had been attacked. A few days later, as a sign of gratitude, this gentleman calls Istvan on the phone and invites him to his sumptuous and refined home in London. Istvan discovers that the man he saved from robbers is the head of a company that provides protection to influential people in the financial world. Mervynthis is the gentleman’s name, offers him the opportunity to work for his company. He generously lends him the money to attend a training course, and above all, explains to Istvan that he must understand how to behave with very rich and wealthy people, who ask to be protected. Istvan becomes the driver of the signore Karl Nymana rich and influential entrepreneur. The wife Helena woman much younger than her husband, falls in love with Istvan. Mr. Nyman falls ill with cancer and undergoes surgery Monaco in Germany, in a modern clinic, and, although the operation was successful, he dies. In the book, the way in which David Szalay describes the relationships between the various characters that the reader encounters in the narrative is extraordinary.
Ever since he was hired as a driver, Istvan always had the feeling that Helen had no particular feelings towards her husband Karl Nyman, who perhaps she had loved in the past. Istvan, thanks to the loans obtained from the investment fund managed by Helen, who became his wife, becomes an important entrepreneur who deals with the building development of the new districts of London. However, as Istvan reveals to his mother who joined him in London from Hungary, the fund belongs to Thomasthe only heir of Karl Nyman. Upon turning twenty-five, Thomas will become the owner of the investment fund. Thomas, who studies art history, and wonders about the relationship between his mother and Istvan, as he confesses to Helen’s famous painter friend, begins to feel a feeling of aversion towards Istvan, as he suspects that he does not love her and only married her to obtain financial benefits. The most beautiful scene of the book, because it reveals and shows how power relations between the exponents of the society work and occur English eliteshows Istvan who, during a dinner, converses with the minister, an influential English politician, to whom he explains the general lines of his urban planning project, which should arise in Rainham.
Was Ronnya business lawyer, who suggested that Istvan speak to the minister to speed up the process and obtain the permits to build the new Rainham neighbourhood. Obviously Istvan is happy to give a donation to the party from which the minister comes, whose favor he asks for. Subsequently, Ronny informs Istvan that an article has been published in the newspapers in which it is said that Istvan’s company has made a substantial donation in favor of the minister’s party, with whom he dined during an evening dedicated to fundraising, and for this reason he has obtained the permits with an accelerated procedure for a large building project, which should be built in Rainham. For Ronny, a shrewd and intelligent lawyer, this revelation from the British press creates many problems, as investors fear being associated with a scandal. In a difficult moment Istvan, to prevent the shipwreck and the end of his entrepreneurial activitiesis forced to ask his wife Helen to intervene, to give him a substantial loan, given that he manages the investment fund owned by his son Thomas. Heith, the lawyer dealing with Thomas’ estate, must decide whether this new investment is in line with the provisions of the fund. To reassure international investors, Istvan decides to invite them to a party in a prestigious venue in London.
During the evening Thomas, who uses drugs, seized by a fit of anger and with his soul invaded by resentment, accuses Istvan of having robbed him with the conniving complicity of his mother Helen. Istvan, who understands the implications of this episode, and becomes aware that he will not be able to realize his urban investment, physically attacks Thomas and throws him to the ground. Jiacob, the teenager born from the relationship between Helen and Istvan, understands the reasons for the hatred and aversion that Thomas feels towards his father Istvan. Istvan meets with the psychologist twice a month Raff. This therapy derives from the discounted sentence Istvan received after he pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm to Thomas. The book represents the fate of a man who lives many dissimilar experiences and, despite being very intelligent, is unable to avert the end of the failure of the activities he has created and promoted. The conclusion of this book, which tells of our world without geographical borders, in which people move incessantly, will surprise the reader. A cultured book, with poetic writing and unforgettable images.
In the flesh
by David Szalay, translated by Anna Rusconi, Collana Fabula, Adelphi 2025, 330 pages, 20 euros
(**) Tim Duncan’s photo portrays David Szalay at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2025
Updated February 6, 2026 at 1:18 pm
