Harold and Maude [novel]
by Colin Higgins
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Description
Nineteen-year-old Harold Chasen is obsessed with death. He fakes suicides to shock his self-obsessed mother, drives a hearse, and attends funerals of complete strangers.Seventy-nine-year-old Maude Chardin, on the other hand, adores life. She liberates trees from city sidewalks and transplants them to the forest, paints smiles on the faces of church statues, and “borrows” cars to remind their owners that life is fleeting—here today, gone tomorrow!A chance meeting between the two turns show more into a madcap, whirlwind romance, and Harold learns that life is worth living, and how to play the banjo.Harold and Maude started as Colin Higgins’s master’s thesis at UCLA film school before being made into the 1971 film directed by Hal Ashby. The quirky, dark comedy gained a loyal cult following, and in 1997 it was selected for inclusion on the National Film Registry at the Library of Congress. Fans who have seen the movie dozens of times will find this a valuable companion, as it gives fresh elements to watch for and answers many of the film’s unresolved questions. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Member Reviews
I laughed so hard throughout the movie that I was grateful for the book's existence so I could read what I missed - and the book is just as funny! Maude Chardin is one of the greatest characters ever invented - her take on life (and death) is a treasure to behold. Although the premise might put some potential readers off, don't let it! Absolutely one of my all-time "keeper" books (and, admittedly, DVDs)!
Wonderful novelization of a heart-touching, life-celebrating cult classic film that I watch over and over again--mostly when I'm depressed or when I'm losing faith in mankind.
Sadly not much more than is in the movie, however it's still a nicely told tale even if there isn't any cat stevens
Like everyone else, I was quite disappointed by this book. The movie is very good, but this is essentially the script turned into prose, with no additional insight into the characters, and very little beyond minimal description.
A big letdown.
A big letdown.
Witty little book about how little age matters when the spirit is free.
Classic - Maude is an unforgettable heroine. Love the movie.
First Avon Printing
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Read the book and saw the movie
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Author Information
14 Works 1,245 Members
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Gallimard, Folio (1611)
Work Relationships
Is an adaptation of
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Harold and Maude [novel]
- Original publication date
- 1971
- People/Characters
- Maude Chardin (Dame Marjorie Chardin); Harold Chasen; Mrs Chasen; Uncle Victor (General Ball)
- Related movies
- Harold and Maude (1971 | IMDb)
- Epigraph
- 'It's very provoking,' Humpty Dumpty said after a long silence, looking away from Alice as he spoke, 'to be called an egg - very!'
Through the Looking-Glass
Lewis Carroll - First words
- Harold Chasen stepped up on the chair and placed the noose about his neck.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)He smiled. He began it again. It was getting better and better, he thought, and he knew he'd have it right before he came to the end of the road.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 381
- Popularity
- 81,860
- Reviews
- 11
- Rating
- (4.01)
- Languages
- 5 — English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 34
- ASINs
- 12
