Olivia Goldsmith (January 1, 1949 – January 15, 2004) was an American author, known for her first novel The First Wives Club (1992), which was adapted into the 1996 film of the same name.

Biography

She was born Randy Goldfield and grew up in Dumont, New Jersey, but changed her name to Justine Goldfield and later to Justine Rendal. She took up writing following a divorce in which she said her husband got almost everything (including her Jaguar and the country house). A graduate of New York University, she was a partner at the management consultants Booz Allen Hamilton in New York prior to becoming a writer. Controversially, in late 1996 Goldsmith said, in response to an Entertainment Weekly reporter's question, that her favorite event of 1996 was when Bob Dole fell off a stage during a campaign function. She also wrote several books for children, which were published under the name Justine Rendal.

Death

Goldsmith died as a result of complications (heart attack) from cosmetic surgery. Her final two books were published posthumously. The song "Edith Wharton's Figurines" from Suzanne Vega's 2007 studio album Beauty & Crime is dedicated to Goldsmith.