Stephen Birmingham, a "prolific novelist, purveyor of popular sociology and raconteur of the rich and famous in bestselling books," died Sunday, the New York Times reported. He was 86. Birmingham's books included "Our Crowd": The Great Jewish Families of New York and The Right People: A Portrait of the American Social Establishment. The Times noted that "his books were often bestsellers--"Our Crowd" was on the Times list for 47 weeks--and most of his nine full-length novels were acclaimed by critics, too."
