I was fascinated to discover the origins of the famous Selfridges store and surprised to learn that its creator was not an Englishman but an American who dazzled London ‘after twenty-five years working at the celebrated store Marshall Field & Co. in Chicago.’

Mr Selfridge’s understanding that women liked to be seduced into buying rather than badgered was significant to his success. He was enthusiastic, innovative, passionate about the retail business and a bold entrepreneur fertile with brilliant ideas. A man not afraid to take risks, a trait that put him ahead of the competition but which also had a tragic downside.

To my disappointment, the book was not an intimate reading of Harry Gordon Selfridge’s life and personality. Although we learn about

Mr Selfridge, the world around him seems to dominate. I was intrigued by some of the historical background but found it a little dry at times and the meandering, into what was for me unnecessary detail, was irritating.

However, other readers may relish the depth of background and not mind the ‘unnecessary’ detail. The book certainly provides excellent knowledge of retail history in Britain and in general as well as the social context of the time (early 1900s).