Lynne Olson is an American author, historian, and journalist. Born on August 19, 1949, she is renowned for her works that delve into the history of the World War II era. Olson graduated magna cum laude from the University of Arizona in 1969 and began her career in journalism, working for the Associated Press and the Baltimore Sun before transitioning to writing.

She has authored several critically acclaimed books on World War II history, earning her the title of "our era's foremost chronicler of World War II politics and diplomacy" by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Among her bestselling works are Madame Fourcade's Secret War, Those Angry Days, and Citizens of London. Her latest book, The Sisterhood of Ravensbruck: How an Intrepid Band of Frenchwomen Resisted the Nazis In Hitler’s All-Female Concentration Camp, is set to be published by Random House on June 3, 2025.

Lynne Olson is married to Stanley Cloud, with whom she often collaborates on her writings.