Books like Shopping, Seduction & Mr Selfridge by Lindy Woodhead

Harry Gordon Selfridge began as a stockboy at Chicago’s Marshall Field’s, rising to partnership over twenty‑five years. In 1909 he opened Selfridge’s on Oxford Street, England’s first purpose‑built department store and a theatre of retail. Designed to turn shopping into a sensual, pleasurable experience, the six‑acre flagship offered a vast range of everyday goods and luxurious curiosities—from ice‑cream soda to signature perfumes—alongside features such as Otis elevators, an indoor rooftop garden, an ice‑skating rink, and a restaurant with live orchestra. Crowded by customers ranging from Anna Pavlova to Noel Coward, the store became a cultural landmark. Behind the glittering façade, Selfridge lived an extravagant life marked by mistresses, opulent mansions, racehorses, and lavish gambling. Woodhead’s biography traces both the commercial triumph and the personal downfall of this retail pioneer.

First publish date: 2007