Origins & Early Life

Judith Krantz (née Tarcher; January 9, 1928 – June 22, 2019) was an American magazine writer, fashion editor, and novelist. Her first novel Scruples (1978) was a New York Times best-seller and was translated into 50 languages. Scruples, which describes the glamorous and affluent world of high fashion in Beverly Hills, California, helped define a new sub-genre of the romance novel — the bonkbuster or "sex-and-shopping" novel. She also became a "celebrity author" through her extensive touring and promotion.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Her later books included Princess Daisy (1980), Mistral's Daughter (1982) Till We Meet Again (1988), Dazzle (1990), and Spring Collection (1996). Her autobiography, Sex and Shopping: The Confessions of a Nice Jewish Girl, was published in 2000. Judith Bluma-Gittel Tarcher was born on January 9, 1928, in New York City, the daughter of Mary (Braeger), a Lithuanian-born attorney, and Jack D. Tarcher, an advertising executive. Her family was Jewish.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The "youngest, smartest, and shortest girl" in her year, she graduated from the Birch Wathen School at age 16. Krantz then enrolled at Wellesley College. Krantz told The Boston Globe in 1982 that she attended...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alexander Bogdanov — Contemporary (Died in 1928) (1928): Polymath philosopher, pioneer of blood transfusion, and key Bolshevik revolutionary.
• Akihito — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): 125th Emperor of Japan; reigned during the Heisei era (1989-2019).
• Albert Finney — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): Esteemed English actor celebrated for his versatile stage and screen performances.
• André Previn — Contemporary (Died in 2019) (2019): Versatile American musician, composer, and conductor mastering jazz, film, and classical forms.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Shared historical date (01-09 · Died) (1833): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Alvah Curtis Roebuck — Shared historical date (01-09 · Born) (1864): Co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company, pioneering American retail businessman.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Shared historical date (06-22 · Born) (1940): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Adam Schiff — Shared historical date (06-22 · Born) (1960): Long-serving Democratic politician, former Congressman, and current U.S. Senator from California.
• 1928 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1928
• January 9 (01-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 9
• 2019 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2019
• June 22 (06-22) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 22