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, 1999                  
 
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 8, 1999, the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's  
classes of common stock was:


          Class                                          Shares Outstanding   
Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value                               51,092,026 
Class B Stock, $1.00 Par Value                              20,020,521

                                        <PAGE>
 


                            HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.

                                   I N D E X




Part I.     Financial Information                                 Page Number

  Item 1.   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
              January 31, 1999 and October 31, l998                     1

            Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
              for the Three Months Ended January 31, 1999 and l998      2

            Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
              for the Three Months Ended January 31, l999
              and l998                                                  3

            Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
              Statements                                                4-5

  Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
              Condition and Results of Operations                       6-10




Part II.    Other Information
 
  Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                            11

Signatures                                                              12


Exhibit 27.1                                                            13

                                        <PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
                                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                               (Unaudited)
(In thousands)                                 January 31,       October 31,
                                                      1999              l998
                                               -----------       -----------
<S>                                             <C>              <C>  
Assets
Current assets:
  Cash and equivalents                          $   81,868       $   115,200 
  Undivided interests in NMG Credit
    Card Master Trust                              180,504           138,867 
  Accounts receivable, net                         361,451           479,569 
  Inventories                                      862,443           706,586 
  Deferred income taxes                            114,794           114,794 
  Other current assets                              86,727            94,024
                                               -----------       -----------
    Total current assets                         1,687,787         1,649,040 

Property and equipment, net                        658,793           645,213 

Other assets:
  Prepublication costs, net                        255,712           252,831 
  Goodwill, net                                  1,604,352         1,614,369 
  Other intangible assets, net                     174,904           183,431 
  Other                                            106,839           104,215
                                               -----------       -----------
    Total other assets                           2,141,807         2,154,846
                                               -----------       ----------- 
 
Total assets                                    $4,488,387        $4,449,099 
                                               ===========       ===========
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
  Notes payable and current maturities
    of long-term liabilities                     $   7,179        $   10,013 
  Accounts payable                                 413,827           392,417 
  Taxes payable                                      9,196            20,928 
  Other current liabilities                        764,866           701,212
                                               -----------       -----------
    Total current liabilities                    1,195,068         1,124,570 

Long-term liabilities:
  Notes and debentures                           1,723,962         1,729,459 
  Other long-term liabilities                      261,951           258,621 
  Deferred income taxes                            118,162           118,162
                                               -----------       ----------- 
    Total long-term liabilities                  2,104,075         2,106,242 

Minority interest                                  290,309           292,565 
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock                                      906               914 
  Common stock                                      71,086            71,029 
  Paid-in capital                                  746,548           745,679 
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss              (9,591)          (15,407)
  Retained earnings                                 89,986           123,507
                                               -----------       -----------
      Total shareholders' equity                   898,935           925,722
                                               -----------       -----------

  Total liabilities and shareholders' equity    $4,488,387        $4,449,099 
                                               ===========        ==========




See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
                                                   1 <PAGE>
 


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        HARCOURT GENERAL, INC.
                            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                              (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands except for per share amounts)
                                                         For the three months
                                                            ended January 31,  
                                                         --------------------
                                                             1999       1998 
                                                         --------   --------
<S>                                                      <C>        <C>
Revenues                                                 $974,750   $900,624 

Costs applicable to revenues                              528,913    502,544 
Selling, general and administrative 
  expenses                                                419,217    362,616 
Corporate expenses                                          8,956      8,880
                                                        ---------   --------

Operating earnings                                         17,664     26,584 

Investment income                                             877      1,416 
Interest expense                                          (32,604)   (26,651)
                                                        ---------   --------

Earnings (loss) before income taxes
  and minority interest                                   (14,063)     1,349 

Income tax benefit (expense)                                5,344       (513)
                                                        ---------   --------

Earnings (loss) before 
  minority interest                                        (8,719)       836 

Minority interest in net earnings of 
  subsidiaries                                            (10,784)   (15,282)
                                                        ---------   --------
                                            
Net loss                                                 ($19,503)  ($14,446)
                                                        ---------   --------

Weighted average number of common and
  common equivalent shares outstanding:

  Basic                                                    71,060     70,786
                                                        =========  =========
  Diluted                                                  71,060     70,786 
                                                        =========  =========

Loss per common share:
  
  Basic                                                  ($   .28)  ($   .21)
                                                        =========  =========
  Diluted                                                ($   .28)  ($   .21)
                                                        =========  =========
  
Dividends per share:
  
  Common Stock                                            $   .20    $   .19 
                                                        =========  =========
  Class B Stock                                           $   .18    $  .171 
                                                        =========  =========
  Series A Stock                                          $ .2275    $ .2165 
                                                        =========  =========









See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
                                                   2 <PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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


(In thousands)                                          For the three months  
                                                          ended January 31,
                                                      ----------------------
                                                          1999          1998
                                                      --------     ---------
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net loss                                            ($19,503)    ($ 14,446) 
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss         
     to net cash provided by operating
     activities:
       Depreciation and amortization                    79,046        71,012 
       Minority interest                                10,784        15,282 
       Other items                                       2,080           172 
       Changes in current assets and liabilities:
         Accounts receivable                           118,118        62,543 
         Inventories                                  (155,857)     (108,931)
         Other current assets                            7,297         6,087 
         Accounts payable and current liabilities       70,600       110,260 
                                                      --------     ---------
                                                                             
Net cash provided by operating activities              112,565       141,979 
                                                      --------     ---------

Cash flows from investing activities:
  Capital expenditures                                 (71,149)      (52,632)
  Purchases of held-to-maturity securities            (160,652)     (164,817)
  Maturities of held-to-maturity securities            119,015       115,890 
  Other investing activities                           (15,356)            - 
                                                      --------     ---------

Net cash used for investing activities                (128,142)     (101,559)
                                                      --------     ---------

Cash flows from financing activities:                 
  Proceeds from (repayments of) revolving
    credit facility borrowings                          (5,000)       48,656 
  Repayment of debt                                       (477)         (463)
  Cash dividends paid                                  (14,018)      (13,313)
  Other equity transactions                              1,740        (2,144)
                                                      --------     ---------

Net cash provided by (used for)
  financing activities                                 (17,755)       32,736 
                                                      --------     ---------

Cash and equivalents
  Increase (decrease) during the period                (33,332)       73,156 
  Beginning balance                                    115,200        82,644 
                                                      --------     ---------
  Ending balance                                      $ 81,868     $ 155,800 
                                                      ========     =========









See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
</TABLE>
                                                   3 <PAGE>
 


                            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 of The Neiman Marcus Group,  Inc. (NMG) are consolidated with a
    lag of  one fiscal  quarter.  NMG  is a separate  public company  which is
    listed on the  New York Stock  Exchange and  is subject  to the  reporting
    requirements of the  Securities Exchange  Act of 1934.   The Company  owns
    approximately  54% of  the common  stock of  NMG.   The  Company does  not
    include  in its  earnings  that portion  of  NMG earnings  (currently 46%)
    attributable to the minority shareholders.

    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.  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 loss per share  are as
    presented in the table below.

    Options  to purchase 1,050,086 and 739,807  shares of common stock and the
    assumed conversion of 906,000  and 1,122,000 shares of Series A Cumulative
    Convertible  Stock were  not included in  the computation  of diluted loss
    per share because  of the net loss in the first quarter of fiscal 1999 and
    1998, respectively.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Three Months Ended
                                            ------------------------
                                            January 31,   January 31,
    (In thousands)                               1999          1998 
                                            ----------    ----------
                                                                    
   <S>                                       <C>          <C>
   Net loss                                  ($19,503)    ($ 14,446)
    Less: dividends on Series A          
      Cumulative Convertible Stock               (206)         (243)
                                            ---------     ---------
                                               
   Net loss for computation of basic 
    and diluted loss per share               ($19,709)     ($ 14,689)
                                            =========     ==========

</TABLE>








                                       4<PAGE>







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


2.  Loss per share  (continued)

    The shares for the computation of basic and diluted loss per share are
    71,060,000 and 70,786,000 shares for the three months ended January 31,
    1999 and 1998, respectively.


3.  NMG stock repurchase

    During the first thirteen weeks of NMG's fiscal 1999, NMG repurchased 
    827,000  shares at  an  average  price of  $18.57 per  share,  and 512,900
    shares were remaining under this program.


4.  NMG acquisitions

    On November  2, 1998,  NMG  acquired  a 51  percent interest  in  Gurwitch
    Bristow  Products  for  approximately $6.7  million  in  cash.    Gurwitch
    Bristow Products manufactures and markets Laura Mercier cosmetic lines.

    On February 1, 1999, NMG acquired a 56 percent interest in Kate Spade
    LLC for approximately $33.6 million in cash.  Kate Spade LLC is a
    manufacturer and marketer of high-end fabric and leather handbags and
    accessories.

5.  Comprehensive loss

    As of November 1, 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
    Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" (SFAS 130)
    and  has reclassified  certain amounts to  conform to  the requirements of
    SFAS 130.   The adoption of  SFAS 130  had no impact on  the Company's net
    loss or shareholders' equity.   Total comprehensive loss amounted to $13.7
    million and $16.8 million for the three months ended January  31, 1999 and
    1998, respectively.   Comprehensive loss  differs from  net loss primarily
    due to  foreign currency translation  adjustments and unrealized gains  or
    losses on the Company's available-for-sale securities. 


      










                                       5 <PAGE>
 

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

                                         Results of Operations

Three Months Ended January 31, 1999 Compared to Three Months January 31, 1998

The following table presents revenues and operating  earnings (loss) by business segment for the three
months ended January 31.
                                                                    
(In thousands)                                  1999            1998
                                            --------        --------
<S>                                         <C>             <C>
Revenues:                                       
  Publishing and 
    educational services                    $387,637        $320,125
  Specialty retailing                        587,113         580,499
                                            --------        --------

    Total revenues                          $974,750        $900,624
                                            ========        ========


Operating earnings (loss):
  Publishing and 
    educational services                    ($23,560)       ($27,567)
  Specialty retailing                         50,180          63,031 
  Corporate expenses                          (8,956)         (8,880)
                                            --------        --------
    Total operating
      earnings                               $17,664         $26,584 
                                            ========        ========
</TABLE>

Publishing and Educational Services
Revenues  from   the  Harcourt  Brace  publishing   and  educational  services
businesses increased $67.5 million, or 21.1%, compared to the same period last
year, primarily as a result of  revenues generated by Mosby, Inc., acquired in
October  1998.   The Education Group's  revenues fell  5.3% to  $88.1 million,
primarily due to  lower revenues at  the Steck-Vaughn supplemental  publishing
business.   Revenues  of the  Lifelong Learning  & Assessment  Group increased
14.6% to $139.8 million in the first  three months of fiscal 1999 from  $122.0
million in  the first  three months  of fiscal  1998.   The  increase in  this
group's  revenues resulted primarily from higher  sales at NETg and Drake Beam
Morin, and to a lesser extent from the higher sales of testing  and assessment
products.    The Worldwide  Scientific,  Technical and  Medical  (STM) Group's
revenues increased  52.0% in the first  three months of fiscal  1999 to $159.7
million, primarily due to the acquisition of Mosby in October 1998.

The publishing and educational services businesses incurred an  operating loss
of  $23.6 million  in the  first quarter  of fiscal  1999, decreasing  by $4.0
million from a loss of $27.6 million in the first three months of fiscal 1998.
The Education Group's loss increased primarily due to lower revenues at Steck-
Vaughn and higher plate costs  in its elementary school business.  The loss at
the  Lifelong Learning  & Assessment  Group decreased  primarily due  to lower
amortization of intangible assets  associated with the acquisition of  ICS and
NETg and higher sales  at DBM and NETg.  These losses were offset in part by a
significant increase in the   Worldwide STM Group's  earnings, primarily as  a
result  of  incremental earnings  from Mosby,  acquired  in October  1998, and
higher sales at Academic Press. 






                                       6<PAGE>



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

Specialty Retailing
Specialty   retailing  results  are  reported  with  a  lag  of  one  quarter.
Accordingly, the operating results of The Neiman Marcus Group,  Inc. (NMG) for
the thirteen weeks ended October 31, 1998 are consolidated with the  operating
results of the Company for the three months ended January 31, 1999. 

Revenues in the  thirteen weeks ended October 31, 1998  increased $6.6 million
or 1.1%  over revenues  in the  thirteen weeks  ended November  1, l997.   The
increase  in revenues was primarily attributable to sales from Chef's Catalog,
acquired in January  1998, and the new  Neiman Marcus store in Hawaii.   Total
comparable  sales decreased 2.3%.   Comparable sales decreased  1.7% at Neiman
Marcus Stores, 7.4% at Bergdorf Goodman and 1.1% at NM Direct.

Operating  earnings decreased 20.4% to $50.2  million primarily as a result of
the lower  comparable sales and, to a lesser extent, to lower margins on sales
by Chef's Catalog and higher markdowns at Bergdorf Goodman.

Interest Expense
Interest  expense increased to  $32.6 million from  $26.7 million  in the same
period  last  year.   The increase  in interest  expense  is primarily  due to
interest on borrowings under  the Company's revolving credit facility  to fund
the Mosby  acquisition.   The interest  expense in the  first three  months of
fiscal 1999 includes a higher amount of interest incurred by NMG in comparison
to  the 1998 period, resulting from both  a higher effective interest rate and
higher average borrowings by NMG.

Minority interest
The Company recorded minority  interest in net earnings of its subsidiaries of
$10.8  million in  the first  three months  of fiscal  1999 compared  to $15.3
million in fiscal  1998.  In the first  three months of fiscal  1999, minority
interest  includes  $11.5 million  relating to  the  minority interest  in net
earnings  of  its specialty  retailing business,  offset  in part  by minority
interest  in  net  losses  of  various  publishing  and  educational  services
businesses.   In  the first  three  months of  fiscal 1998,  the entire  $15.3
million  consisted of  minority  interest in  net  earnings of  its  specialty
retailing business.


















                                       7<PAGE>

                                       

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

                        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 three months ended  January 31,
1999 was $112.6 million.   The publishing and educational  services businesses
provided $182.4 million  of cash from  operations while NMG's operations  used
$69.8 million.  The cash  provided by the publishing and educational  services
businesses   was  sufficient  to  fund  their   working  capital  and  capital
expenditure requirements as well as the  Company's dividend requirements.  NMG
used cash provided  by borrowings under its  own revolving credit  facility to
fund working  capital for the  holiday season  and capital expenditures.   The
primary items affecting working capital were a decrease in accounts receivable
of  $118.1 million,  an  increase in  inventories  of $155.9  million, and  an
increase in accounts payable and current liabilities of $70.6 million.

Cash flows  used by  investing activities  were $128.1  million for the  three
months ended January  31, 1999.   The Company's investing activities  included
capital  expenditures  totaling $71.1  million.    Publishing and  educational
services capital expenditures in the three month period ended January 31, 1999
totaled  $40.6  million  and  were related  principally  to  expenditures  for
prepublication costs.  Capital expenditures in the  publishing and educational
services businesses are expected to approximate $230.0 million in fiscal 1999.
Specialty retailing  capital expenditures  in the  1999  period totaled  $30.5
million.  NMG purchased   a building  adjacent to its  Neiman Marcus store  in
Union  Square  in  San  Francisco  for  a  future  expansion  of  this  store.
Speciality  retailing   capital  expenditures  also   include  existing  store
renovations  and completion of construction of the  new Neiman Marcus store in
Honolulu, Hawaii.  Capital expenditures for NMG in fiscal 1999 are expected to
approximate $110.0 million.  

During  the first thirteen weeks of NMG's fiscal 1999, NMG repurchased 827,000
shares  at  an average  price  of $18.57  per share.    In November  1998, NMG
acquired a 51 percent interest in  Gurwitch Bristow Products for approximately
$6.7 million in cash.  In February 1999, NMG acquired a 56 percent interest in
Kate Spade LLC for approximately $33.6 million in cash.  The acquisitions were
funded primarily through borrowings under NMG's revolving credit facility.

At January 31, 1999, the Company had $405.0 available under its $750.0 million
revolving credit facility which expires in  July 2002.  NMG had $490.0 million
available  at  October 31,  1998  under  its $650.0  million  revolving credit
facility, which expires in October 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.







                                       8<PAGE>


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

Year 2000
The Company has  substantially completed  its assessment of  its hardware  and
software systems, including the embedded  systems in the Company's  buildings,
property  and  equipment,  and  is  implementing  plans  to  ensure  that  the
operations of  such systems will  not be adversely  affected by the  Year 2000
date change.

The  Company is presently in  the process of  renovating non-compliant systems
and implementing converted and  replaced systems for substantially all  of its
non-compliant hardware and software  systems.  The Company estimates  that its
efforts  to make  these  systems Year  2000  compliant are  approximately  60%
complete, with  substantial  completion of  the  Year 2000  project  currently
anticipated for July 1999.

The  Company  has  established an  ongoing  program  to  communicate with  its
significant  suppliers  and  vendors to  determine  the  extent  to which  the
Company's systems  and  operations  are  vulnerable to  those  third  parties'
failure to  rectify their  own Year 2000  issues.   Based on responses  to the
Company's  inquiries, the  Company  is in  the  process of  identifying  those
suppliers and vendors most at risk for failing to achieve Year 2000 compliance
on a timely basis and is monitoring their continuing progress.  The Company is
not presently aware of  any significant exposure arising from  potential third
party failures.  However, there can be no assurance that the  systems of other
companies on  which the Company's  systems or  operations rely will  be timely
converted or that any failure of such parties to achieve  Year 2000 compliance
would not have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

The  Company has  engaged  both internal  and  external resources  to  assess,
reprogram, test and implement its systems  for Year 2000 compliance.  Based on
management's current estimates, the costs of Year  2000 remediation, including
system renovation, modifications and enhancements, which have been and will be
expensed as incurred, have not been and are not expected to be material to the
results of operations or the financial position of the Company.  Additionally,
such  expenditures  have  not  adversely  affected the  Company's  ability  to
continue  its investment  in  new technology  in  connection with  it  ongoing
systems development plans.

Management presently believes the Company's  most reasonably likely worst case
Year  2000 scenario  could  arise  from  a  business  interruption  caused  by
governmental agencies, utility companies, telecommunication service companies,
shipping companies or other  service providers outside the Company's  control.
There can  be  no assurance  that  such  providers will  not  suffer  business
interruption caused by a  Year 2000 issue.  Such an  interruption could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

The Company is in the process of developing a contingency  plan for continuing
operations in  the event  of Year  2000 failures, and  the current  target for
completing that plan is June 1999.

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


                                       9<PAGE>


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


Forward-Looking Statements (continued)

future performance in the Company's publishing and educational services
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; failure of the Company or third parties to be
Year 2000 compliant; 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.

Important  factors  that  could affect  future  performance  in  the Company's
specialty retailing businesses  include, but  are not limited  to: changes  in
economic conditions or consumer confidence; changes in consumer preferences or
fashion  trends;  delays  in  anticipated  store  openings;  adverse   weather
conditions, particularly during  peak selling seasons; failure of  the Company
or  third parties to be Year 2000  compliant; changes in demographic or retail
environments; competitive influences; significant increases in paper, printing
and postage costs; and changes in NMG's relationships with designers and other
resources.    For  more  information,  see  the  Company's  filings  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

































                                      10<PAGE>


                            HARCOURT GENERAL, INC. 

                                    PART II




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

    (a)     Exhibits.

     27.1   Financial Data Schedule
 
     (b)    Reports on Form 8-K

            The Company did not file any reports on Form 8-K during the
            quarter ended January 31, 1999.











































                                      12<PAGE>



                                  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 11, 1999                           S/John R. Cook            
                                               John R. Cook
                                               Senior Vice President and 
                                               Chief Financial Officer



Date: March 11, 1999                           S/Catherine N. Janowski   
                                               Catherine N. Janowski
                                               Vice President and Controller





































                                      13<PAGE>