ll IW4U publications reduced in price, until coronavirus ends

Inspirational writing has a long history. The 'Epic of Gilgamesh' is the first known work of fiction, a cautionary myth from ancient Mesopotamia depicting the transformation of Gilgamesh, arrogant King of Uruk. The gods send wild man, Enkidu, as a friend to lonely  Gilgamesh. Together they travel the world, enduring hardship and having adventures. When Enkidu, dies Gilgamesh is distraught but through the loss of his friend he learns the true meaning of life.

Inspirational works were popularised on the invention of the printing press. Among the earliest were Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (c. 1400) and John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), both religious tracts. In the 18th century pamphlets, ballads and cautionary tales were hugely popular, hawked on street corners and coffee houses, often bawdy & always outspoken. The Age of Enlightenment drew readers from 'fire-and-brimstone' tracts toward thrilling adventure and romance as the influence of the church waned. Aphra Behn, Mrs Gaskell, the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen wrote social novels, forerunners of feminist media. Booker T Washington, Mary Prince and Olaudah Equiano wrote harrowing personal experiences of slavery, garnering support for abolition. Favourite genres were autobiography, biography, popular psychology, spirituality and new age healing.

In this technological age of stress and disconnection, InspirationWorks4U perceives fiction a means to spread positive social action, including small scale campaigns with important messages. All are welcome to contact us. Thanks to modern technology we can accommodate correction of errors, reader comment & fresh ideas. We want our books to be useful and enjoyable, spreading a vital inspirational message of hope & encouragement in what often seems a dark, transient world.