<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q


QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934



For the Quarter Ended                     JANUARY 31, 2001
                     -----------------------------------------------------------

Commission File Number                         1-4925
                      ----------------------------------------------------------

                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                              04-1619609
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)



27 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA                                  02467
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                             (Zip Code)



                                 (617) 232-8200
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.


                  YES   X                   NO
                     -------                  -------



As of March 6, 2001, the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's
classes of common stock was:


          Class                                               Outstanding Shares
------------------------------                                ------------------
Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value                                     55,181,587
Class B Stock, $1.00 Par Value                                    18,110,840


<PAGE>   2


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.

                                      INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Part I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                           Page Number
                                                                          -----------

<S>                                                                       <C>
  Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
          January 31, 2001 and October 31, 2000                                1

          Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
          for the Three Months Ended January 31, 2001
          and 2000                                                             2

          Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
          for the Three Months Ended January 31, 2001
          and 2000                                                             3

          Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements                 4-6

  Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
          Condition and Results of Operations                                  7-9




Part II.  OTHER INFORMATION

  Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                     10


Signatures                                                                     11
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   3


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        January 31,        October 31,
                                                               2001               2000
                                                        -----------        -----------
                                                        (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                     <C>                <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and equivalents                                  $   23,201          $   29,150
  Accounts receivable, net                                 364,176             509,163
  Inventories                                              260,381             226,977
  Deferred income taxes                                    126,252             126,252
  Other current assets                                      30,380              27,917
                                                        ----------          ----------
    Total current assets                                   804,390             919,459
                                                        ----------          ----------

Property and equipment, net                                125,498             125,293

Other assets:
  Prepublication costs, net                                394,710             391,011
  Investment in The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.              194,254             185,225
  Goodwill, net                                          1,344,954           1,358,638
  Other intangible assets, net                              40,881              42,483
  Other                                                     57,173              57,684
                                                        ----------          ----------
    Total other assets                                   2,031,972           2,035,041
                                                        ----------          ----------

    Total assets                                        $2,961,860          $3,079,793
                                                        ==========          ==========

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
  Notes payable and current maturities of
    long-term liabilities                               $   46,483          $   17,603
  Accounts payable                                         208,738             196,648
  Other current liabilities                                450,981             470,326
  Accrued obligations under lease guarantees               155,207             170,295
                                                        ----------          ----------
    Total current liabilities                              861,409             854,872
                                                        ----------          ----------

Long-term liabilities:
  Notes and debentures                                   1,153,353           1,250,453
  Other long-term liabilities                              157,803             154,991
  Deferred income taxes                                     75,489              75,489
                                                        ----------          ----------
    Total long-term liabilities                          1,386,645           1,480,933
                                                        ----------          ----------

Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock                                              706                 727
  Common stock                                              73,294              73,225
  Paid-in capital                                          395,753             369,453
  Accumulated other comprehensive income                    37,636              30,313
  Retained earnings                                        206,417             270,270
                                                        ----------          ----------
    Total shareholders' equity                             713,806             743,988
                                                        ----------          ----------

    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity          $2,961,860          $3,079,793
                                                        ==========          ==========
</TABLE>


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       1
<PAGE>   4


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands except
  for per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            For the three months
                                                              ended January 31,
                                                        -----------------------------
                                                             2001                2000
                                                        ---------           ---------

<S>                                                     <C>                 <C>
Revenues                                                $ 407,106           $ 402,947

Costs applicable to revenues                              155,601             154,897
Selling, general and administrative expenses              296,040             278,347
Corporate expenses                                          9,913               5,676
                                                        ---------           ---------

Operating loss                                            (54,448)            (35,973)

Investment and other income                                 1,088               8,521
Interest expense                                          (23,851)            (25,870)
                                                        ---------           ---------

Loss before income taxes and minority interest            (77,211)            (53,322)

Income tax benefit                                         28,568              19,729
                                                        ---------           ---------

Loss before minority interest                             (48,643)            (33,593)

Minority interest in net losses
  of subsidiaries                                              --                 237
                                                        ---------           ---------

Net loss                                                $ (48,643)          $ (33,356)
                                                        =========           =========

Weighted average number of common and
   common equivalent shares outstanding:
  Basic and diluted shares                                 72,847              71,186
                                                        =========           =========

Basic and diluted amounts per common share:
  Basic and diluted net loss                            $    (.67)          $    (.47)
                                                        =========           =========

Dividends per share:
  Common Stock                                          $     .21           $     .21
                                                        =========           =========
  Class B Stock                                         $    .189           $    .189
                                                        =========           =========
  Series A Stock                                        $   .2826           $   .2826
                                                        =========           =========
</TABLE>


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       2
<PAGE>   5


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (UNAUDITED)


(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   For the Three Months
                                                                     Ended January 31,
                                                               ----------------------------
                                                                   2001                2000
                                                               --------            --------

<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net loss                                                    $ (48,643)          $ (33,356)
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
    net cash provided by operating activities:
         Amortization of prepublication costs                    41,142              36,160
         Depreciation and other amortization                     23,843              26,433
         Gain on sale of securities                                  --              (7,644)
         Minority interest                                           --                (237)
         Other items                                              3,439              (2,375)
         Changes in assets and liabilities:
           Accounts receivable                                  144,987             137,453
           Inventories                                          (33,404)            (14,416)
           Other current assets                                  (2,463)             (4,715)
           Accounts payable and other current
             liabilities                                        (25,516)             30,186
                                                              ---------           ---------

Net cash provided by operating activities                       103,385             167,489
                                                              ---------           ---------

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Capital expenditures                                          (52,544)            (47,605)
  Proceeds from sale of securities                                   --              12,394
  Other acquisitions and investing
    activities                                                     (492)                 --
                                                              ---------           ---------

Net cash used for investing activities                          (53,036)            (35,211)
                                                              ---------           ---------

Cash flows from financing activities:
  Repayments of revolving credit
    facilities, net                                             (68,157)            (90,465)
  Cash dividends paid                                           (15,210)            (14,871)
  Equity swap settlement                                         23,586                  --
  Other financing activities                                      3,483               1,407
                                                              ---------           ---------

Net cash used for financing
  activities                                                    (56,298)           (103,929)
                                                              ---------           ---------

Cash and equivalents
  Increase (decrease) during the period                          (5,949)             28,349
  Beginning balance                                              29,150              24,144
                                                              ---------           ---------
  Ending balance                                              $  23,201           $  52,493
                                                              =========           =========
</TABLE>


See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


                                       3
<PAGE>   6


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

1.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Harcourt General, Inc.
     (the Company) are submitted in response to the requirements of Form 10-Q
     and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial
     Statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of
     management, these statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of
     normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the results
     for the interim periods presented. The consolidated financial statements
     include the accounts of Harcourt General, Inc. (the Company or Harcourt
     General) and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
     accounts and transactions are eliminated.

     Harcourt General is a leading global multiple-media publisher and service
     provider for the educational, assessment, training and professional
     information markets. The Company's businesses are seasonal in nature, and
     historically the results of operations for these periods have not been
     indicative of the results for the full year.

2.   PENDING SALE OF THE COMPANY

     On October 27, 2000, the Company announced that it had entered into an
     agreement and plan of merger with U.S. affiliates of Reed Elsevier plc, a
     London-based worldwide publisher ("Reed"), to sell the Company for $59.00
     per common share and $77.29 per share of Series A Cumulative Convertible
     Stock in cash. The agreement provides for a cash tender offer, (on the
     condition that the number of shares tendered represent at least a majority
     in voting power (on a fully diluted basis) of the outstanding common
     stock), and following completion of the tender offer, a second-step merger
     in which the remaining shares of the Company will be exchanged for the same
     cash consideration. Reed has entered into an agreement with The Thomson
     Corporation ("Thomson") pursuant to which it has agreed to sell portions of
     the Company's business to Thomson immediately after consummation of the
     merger. Completion of the transaction is subject to clearance of the tender
     offer and the Thomson transaction under applicable antitrust laws, as well
     as other customary closing conditions.

3.   LOSS PER SHARE

     Pursuant to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
     No. 128, "Earnings per Share," the net loss and the number of weighted
     average shares used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS)
     are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Three Months Ended
                                                  ------------------------------
     (In thousands)                               January 31,        January 31,
                                                         2001               2000
                                                  -----------        -----------
<S>                                               <C>                <C>
     Net loss                                        $(48,643)          $(33,356)
     Less: dividends on Series A
       Cumulative Convertible Stock                      (199)              (230)

     Less: effect of equity swap
       agreement                                         (287)                --
                                                     --------           --------

     Net loss for computation of basic and
         diluted loss per share                      $(49,129)          $(33,586)
                                                     ========           ========
</TABLE>


                                       4
<PAGE>   7


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)

3.   LOSS PER SHARE (CONTINUED)

     The shares for the computation of both basic and diluted loss per share are
     72,847,000 and 71,186,000 shares for the three months ended January 31,
     2001 and 2000, respectively.

     Options to purchase 3,251,914 and 3,397,514 shares of common stock and the
     assumed conversion of 706,000 and 813,000 shares of Series A Cumulative
     Convertible Stock were not included in the computation of diluted loss per
     share because of the net losses in the first quarter of fiscal 2001 and
     2000, respectively.

4.   COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

     Total comprehensive loss amounted to $41.3 million and $39.6 million for
     the three months ended January 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.
     Comprehensive loss differs from net loss primarily due to unrealized gains
     or losses on the Company's investment in The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.

5.   OPERATING SEGMENTS

     The Company has four reportable segments: Education Group, Higher Education
     Group, Corporate and Professional Services Group and Worldwide Scientific,
     Technical and Medical (STM) Group. The Education Group consists of the
     Company's K-12 and supplemental and trade publishing operations. The Higher
     Education Group includes college, distance learning and graduate test
     preparation businesses. The Corporate and Professional Services Group is
     comprised of testing and related services, career counseling and
     technology-based IT and human resources training. The Worldwide STM Group
     includes the Company's scientific, technical and medical publishing
     businesses and its international publishing and distribution operations.
     Other includes unallocated corporate items. The Company's senior management
     evaluates the performance of the Company's assets on a consolidated basis.
     Therefore, separate financial information for the Company's assets on a
     segment basis is not presented.

     The following tables set forth the information for the Company's reportable
     segments for the three months ended January 31:

     (In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             2001                2000
                                                             ----                ----
<S>                                                     <C>                 <C>
     REVENUES:

     Education Group                                    $  54,340           $  49,511
     Higher Education Group                                77,161              83,913
     Corporate and Professional Services Group            117,602             101,757
     Worldwide STM Group                                  158,003             167,766
                                                        ---------           ---------
      Total                                             $ 407,106           $ 402,947
                                                        =========           =========

     OPERATING EARNINGS (LOSS):

     Education Group                                    $ (65,827)          $ (58,564)
     Higher Education Group                                 7,462               8,842
     Corporate and Professional Services Group             (6,039)             (1,323)
     Worldwide STM Group                                   19,869              20,748
     Other                                                 (9,913)             (5,676)
                                                        ---------           ---------
      Total                                             $ (54,448)          $ (35,973)
                                                        =========           =========
</TABLE>


                                       5
<PAGE>   8


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (UNAUDITED)


6.   ACQUISITION LIABILITIES

     The roll-forward of the acquisition reserves since October 31, 2000 is as
     follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           Unfulfilled
                                           Contractual
     (in millions)           Facilities    Obligations    Other         Total
                             ----------    -----------    -----         -----

<S>                             <C>           <C>         <C>           <C>
     Balance at
      October 31, 2000          $17.0         $3.1        $ 6.3         $26.4

     Payments                    (1.0)          --         (0.4)         (1.4)
                                -----         ----        -----         -----

     Balance at
      January 31, 2001          $16.0         $3.1        $ 5.9         $25.0
                                =====         ====        =====         =====
</TABLE>

7.   SETTLEMENT OF EQUITY SWAP AGREEMENT

     On April 20, 2000 the Company issued 1,372,213 shares of common stock at a
     price of $36.44 per share in a private placement to Salomon Smith Barney
     Inc., acting as agent for Citibank, N.A. The net proceeds of $50.0 million
     were used to partially finance the repayment of the Company's 9.5%
     subordinate notes, which matured in March 2000. Concurrently with the
     offering, the Company entered into an equity swap agreement with Citibank,
     N.A. for a notional amount of $50.0 million. During the first quarter of
     fiscal 2001, the Company elected to settle the agreement in cash, and
     received $23.6 million based on the price of the Company's stock at the
     settlement dates. The common stock issued and the related equity swap were
     accounted for together as an equity instrument. At settlement, the fair
     value of the equity swap was recorded as an adjustment to paid-in capital.

8.   ACCOUNTING FOR DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING

     In the first quarter in fiscal 2001, the Company adopted Statement of
     Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
     Instruments and Hedging Activities" and SFAS No. 138, which amended certain
     provisions of SFAS No. 133 to clarify four areas causing difficulties in
     implementation. The adoption of these standards did not have a material
     effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of
     operations.


                                       6
<PAGE>   9


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
           MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                            AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


                              RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2001 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31,
2000

The following table illustrates revenues and operating earnings (loss) by
business segment for the three months ended January 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(In thousands)                                            2001                2000
                                                          ----                ----

<S>                                                  <C>                 <C>
Revenues:
  Education Group                                    $  54,340           $  49,511
  Higher Education Group                                77,161              83,913
  Corporate and Professional Services Group            117,602             101,757
  Worldwide STM Group                                  158,003             167,766
                                                     ---------           ---------
Total revenues                                       $ 407,106           $ 402,947
                                                     =========           =========

Operating Earnings (Loss):
  Education Group                                    $ (65,827)          $ (58,564)
  Higher Education Group                                 7,462               8,842
  Corporate and Professional Services Group             (6,039)             (1,323)
  Worldwide STM Group                                   19,869              20,748
  Corporate expenses                                    (9,913)             (5,676)
                                                     ---------           ---------
Total operating loss                                 $ (54,448)          $ (35,973)
                                                     =========           =========
</TABLE>

EDUCATION GROUP

Revenues from the Education Group increased $4.8 million, or 9.8%, in the first
three months of fiscal 2001. The increase was primarily attributable to higher
K-12 science and social studies program sales.

The Education Group incurred an operating loss of $65.8 million in the first
quarter of fiscal 2001, increasing by $7.3 million from a loss of $58.6 million
in the first three months of fiscal 2000. The larger loss was primarily as a
result of higher selling, marketing and sampling expenses by the Company's K-12
publishers.

HIGHER EDUCATION GROUP

Revenues from the Higher Education Group decreased $6.8 million or 8.0% to $77.2
million in the first three months of fiscal 2001 from $83.9 million in the first
three months of fiscal 2000. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales of
college product and, to a lesser extent, the sale of the professional publishing
business in fiscal 2000.

Operating earnings from the Higher Education Group decreased $1.4 million, or
15.6%, in the first quarter of fiscal 2001. The decrease resulted primarily from
the lower sales of college product, offset in part by improved profitability at
Harcourt Learning Direct, the Group's distance learning business.


                                       7
<PAGE>   10


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
           MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                            AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CORPORATE AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GROUP
Revenues from the Corporate and Professional Services Group increased 15.6% to
$117.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2001 from $101.8 million in the
prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to higher scoring and
consulting revenues at The Psychological Corporation, the Group's testing and
assessment business.

The Corporate and Professional Services Group incurred an operating loss of $6.0
million, increasing by $4.7 million from a loss of $1.3 million in the prior
year period. The increased loss was primarily due to higher product development,
selling and marketing expenses at NETg, the Group's technology-based training
business.

WORLDWIDE SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND MEDICAL (STM) GROUP
Revenues from the Worldwide STM Group decreased 5.8% to $158.0 million in the
first quarter of fiscal 2001 from $167.8 million in the prior year. The decrease
was primarily due to lower journal and book sales at Harcourt Health Sciences.
The lower journal revenues resulted from the discontinuance of a medical journal
in fiscal 2000 and lower book sales due to a switch in distribution from
wholesalers to direct retail channels.

Operating earnings from the Worldwide STM Group decreased $0.9 million, or 4.2%,
in the first quarter of fiscal 2001. The decrease was primarily due to lower
revenues at Harcourt Health Sciences, offset by savings from the discontinued
medical journal, as well as lower shipping expenses.

CORPORATE EXPENSES
Corporate expenses increased $4.2 million, or 74.6%, to $9.9 million in the
first three months of fiscal 2001. The increase reflects professional fees
incurred relative to the anticipated sale of the Company.


INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME
Investment and other income decreased $7.4 million to $1.1 million in the first
quarter of fiscal 2001. Investment and other income in the first quarter of 2000
included a $7.6 million gain from the sale of securities.

INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense decreased $2.0 million, or 7.8%, in the first quarter of fiscal
2001. The decrease was due to both a lower effective interest rate and lower
average outstanding borrowings.

                         LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The following discussion analyzes liquidity and capital resources by operating,
investing and financing activities as presented in the Company's condensed
consolidated statements of cash flows.

Cash provided by operating activities for the quarter ended January 31, 2001 was
$103.4 million compared to $167.5 million in the prior year period. The cash
provided by the Company's operations and borrowings under its revolving credit
facility was sufficient to fund working capital, capital expenditures and the
Company's dividend requirements. The most significant item affecting working
capital was a seasonal decrease of $145.0 million in accounts receivable.


                                       8
<PAGE>   11


                             HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
           MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                            AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (CONTINUED)

Cash flows used for investing activities were $53.0 million for the quarter
ended January 31, 2001 and consisted primarily of expenditures for
prepublication costs. Capital expenditures are expected to approximate $265
million in fiscal 2001.

During the quarter, the Company settled its equity swap agreement for a total of
$23.6 million in cash, based on the price of the Company's common stock at
settlement dates.

At January 31, 2001, the Company had $455.0 million available under its $750.0
million revolving credit agreement, which expires in July 2002.

The Company believes its cash on hand, cash generated from operations and its
current and future debt capacity will be sufficient to fund its planned capital
growth, operating and dividend requirements.

On October 27, 2000, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement
and plan of merger with U.S. affiliates of Reed Elsevier plc, a London-based
worldwide publisher ("Reed"), to sell the Company for $59.00 per common share
and $77.29 per share of Series A Cumulative Convertible Stock in cash. The
agreement provides for a cash tender offer, (on the condition that the number of
shares tendered represent at least a majority in voting power (on a fully
diluted basis) of the outstanding common stock), and following completion of the
tender offer, a second-step merger in which the remaining shares of the Company
will be exchanged for the same cash consideration. Reed has entered into an
agreement with The Thomson Corporation ("Thomson") pursuant to which it has
agreed to sell portions of the Company's business to Thomson immediately after
consummation of the merger. Completion of the transaction is subject to
clearance of the tender offer and the Thomson transaction under applicable
antitrust laws, as well as other customary closing conditions.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this report referring to the expected future plans and performance
of the Company are forward-looking statements. Actual future results may differ
materially from such statements. Factors that could affect future performance in
the Company's businesses include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability
to develop and market its products and services; the relative success of the
products and services offered by competitors; integration of acquired
businesses; the seasonal and cyclical nature of the markets for the Company's
products and services; changes in economic conditions; changes in public funding
for the Company's educational products and services; and changes in purchasing
patterns in the Company's markets.


                                       9
<PAGE>   12


                                     PART II


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)       EXHIBITS.

          None.

(b)       REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

          On November 15, 2000 the Company filed a report on Form 8-K announcing
          the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Reed Elsevier Inc.
          ("Reed Elsevier") and REH Mergersub Inc. ("Purchaser") and related
          matters.

          On November 20, 2000 the Company filed a report on Form 8-K to report
          that (i) the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice ("DOJ")
          had extended the waiting period applicable to the purchase of Company
          stock in order to request additional information relevant to
          Purchaser's tender offer, and (ii) the Company, The Thomson
          Corporation ("Thomson") and Reed Elsevier had each filed a
          notification and report form with the DOJ and the Federal Trade
          Commission with respect to the transaction contemplated by the Sale
          and Purchase Agreement between Thomson and Reed Elsevier.


                                       10
<PAGE>   13


                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.

Date:  March 16, 2001                        /s/ John R. Cook
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             John R. Cook
                                             Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer


Date:  March 16, 2001                        /s/ Catherine N. Janowski
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Catherine N. Janowski
                                             Vice President and
                                             Controller


                                       11