He Explains Superstars' Male Pain - David Szalay’s *All That Can’t Be Said* Claims the 2025 Booker Prize
David Szalay’s novel All That Can’t Be Said has won the 2025 Booker Prize. The book follows István, a Hungarian man whose life unfolds across five decades, from rural beginnings to a career in England. Critics praise its unflinching realism and refusal to simplify human experience into easy categories.
The story begins when István is just 15 years old. His first defining experience comes through a complicated relationship with an older, married neighbour. This early encounter sets the tone for a life marked by shifting power dynamics and emotional ambiguity.
All That Can’t Be Said stands out for its resistance to simple labels in a time of growing polarisation. The novel’s nuanced portrayal of human contradictions has earned it the Booker Prize. Szalay’s precise, uncompromising style ensures that István’s story feels both deeply personal and universally relevant.
