What writers did Scott admire?
A. Besides Sir Walter Scott, Scott found his greatest inspiration in the works of Herman Melville, Joseph Conrad, D. H. Lawrence, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Willa Cather. His favorite books by other authors were Moby Dick, Billy Budd, The Great Gatsby, and The Good Soldier. Q. Which of Scott’s own books was his favorite? A. Scott always said that asking a writer which was his favorite book was like asking a mother which is her favorite child! Meaning, it’s very hard to choose. But, when pressed, Scott would say that he had two favorites, Island of the Blue Dolphins and The Road to Damietta.
