1857 Henry Gordon Selfridge - US founder of Britain's first large department store

I know I've said it before but I'm saying it again...I really enjoyed the mini-series about Selfridge on PBS a few years ago. I was sad how he ended up.

1928 Thomas Hardy, age 87 - British novelist and poet (Tess of the D'Ubervilles, Far From the Madding Crowd, Jude the Obscure)

When I read Tess I had to stop in the middle of it because I was so involved in her life that I could predict what was going to happen to her and I was very, very upset.LOL I had to wait until I calmed down in able to continue reading. How silly was that?