Pleasure
2018 Nominated

Pleasure

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

The notion of pleasure in all its guises is one of the oldest and most enduring grand themes of literature, presented here through the eyes and thoughts of writer and dreamer Milton Mohlele. Thoughtful, eccentric and besieged by the erotic and the sensual, the profane and the redemptive, Milton thinks and writes on pleasure as it is both experienced and imagined.

Drawn against the canvas of wartime Europe and modern-day Cape Town, South Africa, Milton sacrifices all for glimpses into the secrets and deceptions of pleasure – and how powerless those apparent insights are in the vast scale of life in its glory and absurdity.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Nthikeng
Mohlele

Nthikeng Mohlele is the author of four novels: The Scent of Bliss (Kwela Books, 2008); Small Things (University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, 2013), which was translated into Swedish as Joburg Blues (Weyler Förlag, 2014); Rusty Bell (University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, 2014; and Pleasure. Mohlele was listed by Bloomsbury Publishing, the Hay Festival and the Rainbow Book Club among the 39 most promising authors under the age of 40 from sub-Saharan Africa and the diaspora. He lives and works in Johannesburg.

Nthikeng Mohlele is the author of four novels: The Scent of Bliss (Kwela Books, 2008); Small Things (University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, 2013), which was translated into Swedish as Joburg Blues (Weyler Förlag, 2014); Rusty Bell (University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, 2014; and Pleasure. Mohlele was listed by Bloomsbury Publishing, the Hay Festival and the Rainbow Book Club among the 39 most promising authors under the age of 40 from sub-Saharan Africa and the diaspora. He lives and works in Johannesburg.

We're sorry, but we couldn't find any translators matching your search. Please try using different keywords or check back later as we regularly update our collection.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
01/04/2015

RELATED FEATURES

Video April 7 2026

The 2026 Shortlist

Discover this year's Dublin Literary Award Shortlist
News April 7 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Shortlist is Announced

Delve into the 6 novels shortlisted this year.
News April 2 2026

Past Winner Spotlight: Michael Crummey

Reflecting on his 2025 Dublin Literary Award win with his novel 'The Adversary', libraries, literature and more.
News March 11 2026

Translator Spotlight: Jo Heinrich

Reflecting on translating the 2023 winning novel 'Marzahn, Mon Amour' and life as a literary translator.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.