Readers Spot Striking Parallels Between David Szalay’s Novel and Kubrick Film
David Szalay released his novel Flesh in March 2025. The book follows István, a working-class Hungarian who rises toward London’s social elite. Szalay is a Canadian-Hungarian author and Flesh is his sixth novel.
Booker Prize win
Flesh won the 2025 Booker Prize. The jury chose it unanimously. Roddy Doyle, the jury chair, praised the book as unlike anything they had read.
Parallels with Barry Lyndon
Readers and critics began noting strong similarities to Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 film Barry Lyndon. Kubrick’s film was adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel.
Shared plot elements
- Both protagonists start life in poverty.
- Each man joins the army early in life.
- Both enter into relations with wealthier women.
- Both lose a son during their lives.
- Each experiences conflict with a stepson or ward.
- Both men ultimately lose much of what they had gained.
When the comparisons emerged
The first public observations of these parallels arrived in June 2025. Early reviews at the book’s release did not emphasize the similarities. The debate unfolded more broadly in the months after publication.
Author’s statements on influence
Szalay has discussed inspirations for Flesh, but did not initially cite Kubrick or Thackeray. He later said he saw Barry Lyndon around age 20. He acknowledged the rags-to-riches story affected him.
On BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life, Szalay was asked if his novel directly referenced the film. He replied that it did not.
Ongoing debate over originality
Some commentators argue the echoes amount to a modern reimagining, not plagiarism. Others see the parallels as too close to dismiss readily. The question of conscious borrowing remains unresolved.
Many observers summarized the reaction with the phrase “Readers Spot Striking Parallels Between David Szalay’s Novel and Kubrick Film” when discussing the comparisons. Coverage and commentary are available via Filmogaz.com.
