I thought that my blacksmith deserved a few new decorations; after buying him a new bed, I treated him to a new bookcase. In Buy Mode, I tried a few options and finally decided that the Scholar's bookcase would be a good choice as it could also act as a room divider & slightly hide his potty and wash basin from view.
Imagine my surprise when, back in Game/Live Mode, I checked his inventory. He had 72 books! Admittedly, two of them he'd had before, but the other 70 are a surprise. They're not all the same book, the number of copies of different books vary from 1 to 4... I suppose I ought to go and write down some of the titles as maybe it would be useful info for Carl's Guide? (Please let me know if you want a list of names.)
I'm going to add a bookcase when I play another Hero - just to see if it happens again. I'll get back to you on that.
LATER:
Just finished my Blacksmith's Quest and have tested with my Monarch. If you go into Buy Mode and buy a bookcase and place it, then change your mind, sell it back, then buy another and place (however many times that might be - which might be lots - if you're a dithering decorator like me
). When you finally return to Live Mode, your Hero's inventory will be full of books, which can be sold or given away.