A review by embfitz
Shopping, Seduction & Mr. Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead

The story is terrific -- read Harry Selfridge's Wikipedia entry for proof -- and it's a pleasant read. It also covers more ground than the (big chunks of which are fictionalized but costume-wise, it's a treat) television series. The book spends some time on Selfridge's childhood, and his time at Marshall Field in Chicago. He had an entire career there before he retired, got bored with retirement, turned 51, started all over again...and THAT is where the TV series picks up. Only kittens and toddlers also have that kind of energy.

A shame everyone who takes on the task of telling the story has to rush through the end, though. I understand it's because there's a lack of source material, but still. I also wish Selfridge had left more letters behind, or an autobiography. Let that be a lesson to us all?