Possible Clues:

• Simple stone set in gold before
• Spartan, ascetic
• Strict novelist shortly penning finales of the chapter
• Serious tea-user reformed
• Australia tried enthusiastically removing England's openers – harsh!
• Author mostly concerned with having no luxuries
• Simple one providing food without frills entertaining me, informally
• Stern composed features female's lacking
• Exacting short-term drills start off aerobic exercise
• Plain and simple