[Arnold Bennett's father] 'encouraged them to read. As soon as he had any money he began to buy books, and one of the features of the house in Waterloo Road was its "Book Room". Arnold recalls: "His library was the largest in my youthful experience. [We]? estimate it at one thousand volumes - mostly dull and worthless, but all dignified. He had a passion for filling his offspring with information, at small trouble to himself. When any point of dispute arose he would say "look it up". We looked it up!"'