Point of View

The point of view in Flesh is a close third person that adheres almost entirely to István’s perceptions. The narration stays beside him in each phase of his life and rarely enters the interior worlds of other characters. This limited vantage point foregrounds his sensory impressions and immediate reactions rather than any panoramic account of Hungarian or British society. The narrator does not explain other people’s motives with authority. Instead, the narrative lets gestures, dialogue, and surfaces suggest what others may feel or intend. That choice keeps the focus on István’s partial understanding and underlines how often he misreads or cannot read the people around him.

Szalay uses present tense for much of the narration, even when the story covers long stretches of a life. Present tense gives each scene a sense of ongoingness and removes the safety of hindsight...