That she does this in the context of an engaging narrative accessible to a young readership is a gratifying bonus.’ – Robert Dunbar, The Irish Times Forde rises magnificently to the challenge… Forde’s novel blends the futuristic with the retrospective, demanding that her readers consider their own language histories and their underlying philosophies. For a writer to deal with such themes it is the most basic of requirements that she herself should handle words in a manner which exploits their potential richness and resonance. ‘A novel that truly stands apart for its originality and relevance… a book about words, about language, about their power to civilise – and, in the wrong hands, to abuse and dehumanise. I would definitely recommend this book to all keen readers out there.’ – The Guardian Without these words that we have, our lives would be unimaginably different.

‘This book is important because it targets the dangers of global warming and the power of communication, love and expression. It’s a vividly rendered allegory drawn with poetic phrasing that will suit older children with an eye for the complex.’ – Philip Womack in The Literary Review

The Ark is a community led by John Noa, who is gradually cutting down the list of words that people can use, believing that it was words which led people into trouble in the first place. ‘There is a welter of post-apocalyptic novels out there at the moment, but Patricia Forde’s The Wordsmith (Little Island 285pp £7.99) stands out for its imaginative approach and its beautiful and careful use of language.

The wordsmith by patricia forde