The List (#1 Wordsmith)

Description

In the city of Ark, speech is constrained to five hundred sanctioned words. Speak outside the approved lexicon and face banishment. The exceptions are the Wordsmith and his apprentice Letta, the keepers and archivists of all language in their post-apocalyptic, neo-medieval world.

On the death of her master, Letta is suddenly promoted to Wordsmith, charged with collecting and saving words. But when she uncovers a sinister plan to suppress language and rob Ark's citizens of their power of speech, she realizes that it's up to her to save not only words, but culture itself.

Author description

Patricia Forde has written two plays, as well as several television drama series for children and teenagers. She lives with one husband, two teenagers, and a dog called Ben in a house in the middle of a small wood in Galway, Ireland. In her spare time she collects vintage children's books and reads them late into the night.