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آواز قو
خانم وینسنت مشغول جمع زدن اعداد و ارقام بود. یکی دو بار آه کشید و دست بر پیشانی دردناکش گذاشت. از قدیم از حساب متنفر بود. ولی حالا مجبور بود این کار را انجام بدهد. مجبور بود پشت سر هم حسابها و خرجهای کوچک را با هم جمع بزند و حاصل این جمعها هم همیشه متحیرش میکرد و زنگ خطر را برایش به صدا در میآورد.
282 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1926
13 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Christie
5,822 books75.5k followersAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, DBE (née Miller) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery The Mousetrap, which has been performed in the West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. Guinness World Records lists Christie as the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies.
This best-selling author of all time wrote 66 crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and six novels under a pseudonym in romance. Her books sold more than a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. According to Index Translationum, people translated her works into 103 languages at least, the most for an individual author. Of the most enduring figures in crime literature, she created Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. She atuhored The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theater.
Associated Names:
Agata Christie
Agata Kristi
Агата Кристи (Russian)
Агата Крісті (Ukrainian)
Αγκάθα Κρίστι (Greek)
アガサ クリスティ (Japanese)
阿嘉莎·克莉絲蒂 (Chinese)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 26, 2024
A famous opera singer gets her revenge.
It's one of those stories that men would do well to pay attention to, as it shows how long a woman will wait to get payback.
Sleep with one eye open, sir.
Not my personal favorite but only because
Recommended for fans of Christie.
Originally published in 1926 in Grand Magazine.
Read as part of the short story collection The Golden Ball and Other Stories.
It's one of those stories that men would do well to pay attention to, as it shows how long a woman will wait to get payback.
Sleep with one eye open, sir.
Not my personal favorite but only because
Recommended for fans of Christie.
Originally published in 1926 in Grand Magazine.
Read as part of the short story collection The Golden Ball and Other Stories.
February 13, 2021
Swan Song was first published in The Grand Magazine in September 1926 (UK) and later included in the short story collection The Listerdale Mystery (1934). The story was not published in the United States until 1971 (The Golden Ball and Other Stories).
Paula Nazorkoff is difficult and egotistical....but she is also an operatic soprano of amazing skill. So her diva behavior is forgiven by those around her. She is doing a short tour in London and is invited to perform in a private home. She agrees, but only if they are allowed to perform Tosca. She is famous for her past performances as the lead in Tosca, but that night she gives a very very memorable performance.
Short, but very entertaining story! The ending of this one was a bit more obvious than most of these short stories, but I enjoyed it. The title is perfect. I listened to the audio version of this story. Hugh Fraser (played Hastings in the Poirot television series) narrated. He does such a great job! Fraser is rapidly becoming one of my favorite audio book narrators!
These early short stories were never meant to have detailed plots or fleshed out characters. Most were published early in Christie's career in magazines and then collected together in book form later. Paired with illustrations in magazines these early stories would have been great advertising for Christie's writing! Just some advice -- don't read these looking for the same detail, attention to plot and twisty surprises as in Christie's novels. These are "one minute mystery'' sort of stories with just a bit of story to set the scene, a bit of action and then the reveal. Knowing the pulp-y background of these stories and reading these early stories with that in mind will help boost a reader's enjoyment. I've seen many reviews faulting these stories with comments like "Oh, this was so short!'' and "The characters and plot weren't detailed enough...'' These stories weren't written to be detailed. They were written for pulp detective and fiction magazines. Short....a bit of a zing....and done. Barebones characters....a simple plot...and a reveal. Read the for what they are. Pure entertainment, not perfect detailed craft.
BBC4 Radio broadcast a "modernized'' version of this story in 2002 focused around a lesbian relationship. While I applaud the adaptation of Christie's work for radio or television, I don't like it when the stories are fundamentally changed or modernized, so I skipped this one. It's no longer her story if it's radically changed. The modernized versions of 12 of her stories broadcast by BBC4 in the early 2000's are available -- Agatha Christie: 12 Radio Mysteries. So far I have resisted buying this collection because I know the stories have all been altered. I might change my mind at some point....but not yet.
On to the next!
Paula Nazorkoff is difficult and egotistical....but she is also an operatic soprano of amazing skill. So her diva behavior is forgiven by those around her. She is doing a short tour in London and is invited to perform in a private home. She agrees, but only if they are allowed to perform Tosca. She is famous for her past performances as the lead in Tosca, but that night she gives a very very memorable performance.
Short, but very entertaining story! The ending of this one was a bit more obvious than most of these short stories, but I enjoyed it. The title is perfect. I listened to the audio version of this story. Hugh Fraser (played Hastings in the Poirot television series) narrated. He does such a great job! Fraser is rapidly becoming one of my favorite audio book narrators!
These early short stories were never meant to have detailed plots or fleshed out characters. Most were published early in Christie's career in magazines and then collected together in book form later. Paired with illustrations in magazines these early stories would have been great advertising for Christie's writing! Just some advice -- don't read these looking for the same detail, attention to plot and twisty surprises as in Christie's novels. These are "one minute mystery'' sort of stories with just a bit of story to set the scene, a bit of action and then the reveal. Knowing the pulp-y background of these stories and reading these early stories with that in mind will help boost a reader's enjoyment. I've seen many reviews faulting these stories with comments like "Oh, this was so short!'' and "The characters and plot weren't detailed enough...'' These stories weren't written to be detailed. They were written for pulp detective and fiction magazines. Short....a bit of a zing....and done. Barebones characters....a simple plot...and a reveal. Read the for what they are. Pure entertainment, not perfect detailed craft.
BBC4 Radio broadcast a "modernized'' version of this story in 2002 focused around a lesbian relationship. While I applaud the adaptation of Christie's work for radio or television, I don't like it when the stories are fundamentally changed or modernized, so I skipped this one. It's no longer her story if it's radically changed. The modernized versions of 12 of her stories broadcast by BBC4 in the early 2000's are available -- Agatha Christie: 12 Radio Mysteries. So far I have resisted buying this collection because I know the stories have all been altered. I might change my mind at some point....but not yet.
On to the next!
November 20, 2025
۳.۵ 🌟
کتاب خیلی جذابی بود من تا به حال داستان کوتاه های آگاتا کریستی رو نخونده بودم و فکر نمیکردم این سبک داستان رو هم داشته باشه . جالب بود
اگر بخوام به طور کلی نقد کنم داستان ها هر کدوم متفاوت از دیگری و به خاص خودشون بودن . شخصیت ها متنوع ولی جالبی داستان بود که هر کدوم کاملا با دیگری فرق میکرد. اما عیبی که برای من تو ذوق میزد تم رمانتیک اکثر داستان ها بود که مرد داستان عاشق یک زن به شدت زیبا میشه هر چند توی همه شون این طور نبود اما عشق و معما رو همشون داشتن که تا یه جایی خوب بود و بعدش دل رو می زد .
همچنان داستان محبوبم داستان دوم یعنی کلبه فیلومل هستش اما در رتبه دوم داستان آواز قو رو دوست دارم که اسمش روی جلد هم اومده
اکثر داستان ها غیر قابل پیش بینی بودن و جذاب مثل همه ی کارهای ایشون کتاب از دستم نیوفتاد
بعد از این کتاب میخوام کتاب دختر سوم رو بخونم امیدوارم اونم به همین خوبی باشه
1404.08.29
22.05
شب خوش
کتاب خیلی جذابی بود من تا به حال داستان کوتاه های آگاتا کریستی رو نخونده بودم و فکر نمیکردم این سبک داستان رو هم داشته باشه . جالب بود
اگر بخوام به طور کلی نقد کنم داستان ها هر کدوم متفاوت از دیگری و به خاص خودشون بودن . شخصیت ها متنوع ولی جالبی داستان بود که هر کدوم کاملا با دیگری فرق میکرد. اما عیبی که برای من تو ذوق میزد تم رمانتیک اکثر داستان ها بود که مرد داستان عاشق یک زن به شدت زیبا میشه هر چند توی همه شون این طور نبود اما عشق و معما رو همشون داشتن که تا یه جایی خوب بود و بعدش دل رو می زد .
همچنان داستان محبوبم داستان دوم یعنی کلبه فیلومل هستش اما در رتبه دوم داستان آواز قو رو دوست دارم که اسمش روی جلد هم اومده
اکثر داستان ها غیر قابل پیش بینی بودن و جذاب مثل همه ی کارهای ایشون کتاب از دستم نیوفتاد
بعد از این کتاب میخوام کتاب دختر سوم رو بخونم امیدوارم اونم به همین خوبی باشه
1404.08.29
22.05
شب خوش
August 7, 2025
کتاب خوبی بود، در واقع اولین کتابی بود که انتخاب کردم تا از آگاتا کریستی بخونم. انتظار یک داستان طولانی رو داشتم با حال و هوای کارآگاهی، اما این کتاب از تعدادی داستان کوتاه تشکیل شده که میتونم بگم عنصر عشق و علاقه توشون پررنگ تره، مثلا شخصیت پسر داستان بخاطر دختره توی یک ماجرای جنایی/ کارآگاهی قرار میگرفت یا برعکس، و یا حتی بخاطر اثبات خودشون به همدیگه، یه همچنین فضایی داشت کتاب، ولی احساس میکنم سرم کلاه رفته، چی میخواستم و چی خوندم! XD
اما خب، داستان ها جالب بودن و سرگرم کننده.
میتونم بگم شیوه روایتشون واقعا خوب بود چون من به ندرت از کتابی که داستان های کوتاه کوتاه داره خوشم میاد.
اما خب، داستان ها جالب بودن و سرگرم کننده.
میتونم بگم شیوه روایتشون واقعا خوب بود چون من به ندرت از کتابی که داستان های کوتاه کوتاه داره خوشم میاد.
February 19, 2021
Cu parere de rau nu am savurat deloc lectura acestei carti
Practic e o carte care cuprinde mai multe povestioare,m.am pierdut in personaje, actiunea nu m.a tinut in suspans asa cum eram obisnuita ca voi gasi in cartile Agathei Cristie.
Cred ca una din cele mai slabe carti citite a autoarei.
Ce sa mai spun ca , cantecul lebedei are doar cateva pagini, o cantareata care ucide.
Nu o recomand.
Practic e o carte care cuprinde mai multe povestioare,m.am pierdut in personaje, actiunea nu m.a tinut in suspans asa cum eram obisnuita ca voi gasi in cartile Agathei Cristie.
Cred ca una din cele mai slabe carti citite a autoarei.
Ce sa mai spun ca , cantecul lebedei are doar cateva pagini, o cantareata care ucide.
Nu o recomand.
August 7, 2022
Had so many restarts with this one, as it was really hard to get into. It was well done though. This is a case of Agatha Christie’s music hobby mixing into her writing, which is an interesting idea. Works well as a short story, so I’m relieved she didn’t extend it to a dull, padded book.
August 18, 2021
Very predictable story about a singer that performs on an aristocrat's mansion and demands to play a certain part. When her partner in the play gets sick, they find a replacement for him, a retired singer that was a mentor to a young girl once. When this girl's boyfriend gets arrested, she had asked for her mentor's help but he refuses. And so her boyfriend got executed.
During the play, the singer gets to have revenge as the characters in the play, and kills her old mentor both in and out of the story.
During the play, the singer gets to have revenge as the characters in the play, and kills her old mentor both in and out of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2016
بدترین کتابی بود که در زندگیم از آگاتا کریستی خوندم!
داستان ها نپخته بود. شخصیت های دستان اکثرا ادم های ساده لوحی بودن و از هوش و ذکاوت معمول در رمان های آگاتا کریستی هیچ اثری توش دیده نمی شد.
بع غیر از یکی از داستان های به اسم "تصادف" تقریبا همه باقی داستان ها با یک پایان خوش اغراق امیز تموم شدند که هر جا می شد یک رومانس همبه این پایان پیوست شده بود.
خلاصه اینکه نخونید!
چقدرم تموم کردنش طول کشید.
داستان ها نپخته بود. شخصیت های دستان اکثرا ادم های ساده لوحی بودن و از هوش و ذکاوت معمول در رمان های آگاتا کریستی هیچ اثری توش دیده نمی شد.
بع غیر از یکی از داستان های به اسم "تصادف" تقریبا همه باقی داستان ها با یک پایان خوش اغراق امیز تموم شدند که هر جا می شد یک رومانس همبه این پایان پیوست شده بود.
خلاصه اینکه نخونید!
چقدرم تموم کردنش طول کشید.
March 29, 2020
Read 2020
January 16, 2026
3 Stars. Not as enjoyable as some others. I'm not an opera fan; at least I don't know the stories. Some of the music really soars but I understand little else. If Agatha Christie had weaved a brief explanation of the famous opera, Tosca, into the early going, it would have helped me and others. Don't get me wrong, Swan Song is also about the usual stuff for Christie - people getting into difficult circumstances including tragedies and how things get resolved. Whether the characters are in an opera, or a doctor's office, doesn't matter. This applies here. The famous opera star, Madame Paula Nazorkoff with her mercurial temperament is in London for a few performances and she gets invited by Lady Rustonbury to be the lead in a special presentation of Tosca at her country estate. There's a nice fee attached and Nazorkoff is eager to participate. Royalty may be in attendance. Then Signor Roscari, chosen as the tenor to play opposite her, suddenly falls ill. The show must go on and Lady Rustonbury remembers that recently retired opera singer Eduardo Breon lives nearby. "I will get him; leave it to me," she says. Summary? Revenge. (Ja2026)
March 9, 2017
Stunning and operatic - the epic scale of this short story is impressive.
Read
April 21, 2020Want to see more...
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Such a cute little short story
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Such a cute little short story
November 6, 2020
I suppose that if I had any interest or knowledge of opera, I might have enjoyed this short story more. I don't so I didn't.
Audiobook
about 32 minutes
Audiobook
about 32 minutes
December 18, 2021
3 stars
Though the ending is not very surprising, I liked this short story. Still, I prefer the regular Poirot and Marple stories.
Though the ending is not very surprising, I liked this short story. Still, I prefer the regular Poirot and Marple stories.
November 11, 2025
Exciting story about revenge. Recommended!
May 29, 2022
یکی ازخوبای داستان های جنایی ترکیب شده باعاشقانه ها
وجمله انتهایی بینظیر
“نمایش به پایان رسیده است”
وجمله انتهایی بینظیر
“نمایش به پایان رسیده است”
August 5, 2023
Alhoewel het slot niet onverwacht was, toch leuk neergezet.
December 20, 2025
Again, a story who's point was lost to me. oh well.
August 16, 2025
"Swan Song" is a short story with an intriguing blend of opera, drama, and crime. The story took me around 40 minutes to read. It was first published in the Grand Magazine in 1926. The story follows Madame Paula Nazorkoff, a renowned but temperamental operatic soprano, as she prepares for a series of performances in London.
One of the highlights of the novel is the depth of its characters. Madame Nazorkoff is portrayed with a mix of fragility and strength, bringing a level of complexity to the role of a diva that makes her both relatable and enigmatic. The supporting characters, including her manager Mr. Cowan and Lord and Lady Rustonbury, contribute to the rich tapestry of the story. I particularly enjoyed the backstory of Edouard Bréon, the retired baritone, who reminisces about the enigmatic Bianca Capelli—a narrative thread that adds a layer of mystery to the plot.
The climax, involving a sudden illness of a singer and a dramatic twist during the performance of "Tosca," does provide the suspense one expects from Christie. However, the resolution felt somewhat rushed.
Overall “Swan Song" offers a delightful peek into the world of opera while weaving in a mystery that keeps you guessing. While it may not be Christie’s most thrilling work, it’s still an enjoyable read for fans of her writing and opera enthusiasts alike. With its mix of glamour and intrigue, it's a worthwhile addition to her vast collection, earning a solid three stars for its character depth and atmosphere.
One of the highlights of the novel is the depth of its characters. Madame Nazorkoff is portrayed with a mix of fragility and strength, bringing a level of complexity to the role of a diva that makes her both relatable and enigmatic. The supporting characters, including her manager Mr. Cowan and Lord and Lady Rustonbury, contribute to the rich tapestry of the story. I particularly enjoyed the backstory of Edouard Bréon, the retired baritone, who reminisces about the enigmatic Bianca Capelli—a narrative thread that adds a layer of mystery to the plot.
The climax, involving a sudden illness of a singer and a dramatic twist during the performance of "Tosca," does provide the suspense one expects from Christie. However, the resolution felt somewhat rushed.
Overall “Swan Song" offers a delightful peek into the world of opera while weaving in a mystery that keeps you guessing. While it may not be Christie’s most thrilling work, it’s still an enjoyable read for fans of her writing and opera enthusiasts alike. With its mix of glamour and intrigue, it's a worthwhile addition to her vast collection, earning a solid three stars for its character depth and atmosphere.
March 13, 2021
This one is very opera heavy and you really need to have a sense of Tosca to truly understand the story. An opera singer agrees to do a private show at a county house but insists that it has to be Tosca. The night of the performance, the male lead gets sick and cannot take the stage. A nearby neighbor is asked to step in since he is a retired opera singer. He does and tells the story of how he betrayed a young, up and coming opera singer back in the day by refusing to help her lover. During the performance, the female lead stabs him during the penultimate scene in the opera and kills him. In the end, we learn that she was the young star that he betrayed and she wanted many years for her revenge. I saw the whole thing coming so it wasn’t very suspenseful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2017
The whole "Tosca " thing was too much for me, maybe because am not that into opera's and theater! I don't know I just felt it a bit forced.
April 1, 2019
Might appeal to fans of opera, since this revenge quest parallels Tosca.
June 13, 2020
A story of a spurned Opera Singer looking for a chance to shine in front of an old colleague/ nemesis on stage. A rather poor topic to choose to do a story on.
August 19, 2021
For Italian opera buffs only.
December 22, 2024
Terminal performance.
Read as part of the collection The Listerdale Mystery and Eleven Other Stories.
Read as part of the collection The Listerdale Mystery and Eleven Other Stories.
December 22, 2024
I had no idea Agatha Christie ever wrote anything about lesbians
April 1, 2025
Mostly seems like an excuse for Christie to use the opera as a setting--the plot was not that compelling.
April 29, 2025
decent
April 30, 2025
Read this as part of the sinister spring collection. This was fun though I saw it coming a mile away, still fun! Loved the setting. Did not feel spring at all though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews