11 brilliant writers on the books that made them who they are today

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In Tristram Shandy the most irresponsible, uncensored, reckless art carries aesthetic and moral insights of intense profundity.” Stewart’s book ‘Politics on the Edge’ is out now open image in gallery Rory Stewart Judy Murray – Tennis Handbook, by Nick Bollettieri “When I started out in coaching in the late 1980s, there was nobody to learn from in Scotland. His handbook was gold dust to me.” Murray’s novel ‘The Wild Card’ is out on 8 June open image in gallery Judy Murray Caitlin Moran – Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery “I can remember wanting to be a writer from a very young age – perhaps six – but fretting that books had to be about saving the world, or aliens, or wars, or… diseased rabbits hallucinating some kind of rabbit god. Mixing education and humour is everything I aim for as a kids’ author, and The Phantom Tollbooth is the gold standard, unmatched since 1961.” ‘Kay’s Incredible Inventions’ by Kay, illustrated by Henry Paker, is published on 23 May open image in gallery Adam Kay Kaliane Bradley – Frost in May, by Antonia White “I first read Frost in May by Antonia White as a teenager, and have reread it over and again as an adult. I immediately wanted to write a book just like it, and a few weeks later I started writing my first novel, Ralph’s Party, which was published in 1999 and which changed the course of my life for ever.” ‘None of This is True’ by Jewell is out now open image in gallery Lisa Jewell Blindboy – The Third Policeman, by Flann O’Brien “I read The Third Policeman as a teenager and it made writing seem like something I could at least try.