A conservative's reading habits

Serious fiction was perhaps the only class of book upon which he was cautious of embarking. He never began a new novel until he was assured that it ended well. If no such assurance was forthcoming, he fell back upon Scott, Jane Austen, Kipling, and Stevenson.

That's Arthur Balfour, as described by his niece and biographer. More on his reading. And his posture thereat.