Harold and Maude

A Novel

By: Colin Higgins

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

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 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.

©1971 Colin Higgins Trust (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Amazing!

I drank oat straw tea and ate ginger pie while listening! Great source material and outstanding performance. Great for Fall weekends.

Fantastic book and perfect narration!

Amazing story and Barbara Rosenblat is my absolute favorite! She did an absolutely incredible job!

Flawless performance !!

I have never listened to a book before, where the narrator has so thoroughly brought the characters to life. While this story is quirky and slightly off beat, Ms. Rosenblatt's take on the characters made their behaviors and personalities completely plausible. I am now off to choose another story narrated by Ms. Rosenblatt.. if there are Oscar's given to audio performers..she deserves one!

Love Love Love

This is one of my most favorite books I wish it was longer I never wanted it to end.