While the Light Lasts
UK
HarperCollins, London, Aug. 1997
US
Putnam, New York, Apr. 1997 as "The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories"
While the Light LastsThe Harlequin Tea Set
The House of DreamsThe Edge
The ActressThe Actress
The EdgeWhile the Light Lasts
Christmas AdventureThe House of Dreams
The Lonely GodThe Lonely God
Manx GoldManx Gold
Within a WallWithin a Wall
The Mystery of the Baghdad ChestThe Mystery of the Spanish Chest
While the Light LastsThe Harlequin Tea Set

Plot

A macabre recurring dream... revenge against a blackmailer... jealousy, infidelity and a tortured conscience... a stolen gemstone... the haunting attraction of an ancient relic... a race against time... a tragic love triangle... a body in a box... an unexpected visitor from beyond the grave...
Nine quintessential examples of Agatha Christie's brilliance are contained in this new collection of early short stories - including the very first one she ever wrote - and provide a unique glimpse of the Queen of Crime in the making.

short stories

The House of Dreams

Sovereign Magazine, Jan. 1926

The Actress

a.k.a. 'A Trap for the Unway', The Novel Magazine, May 1923
The 20-Story Magazine #103, January 1931

The Edge

Pearson's Magazine, Feb. 1927

Christmas Adventure

* only "While the Light Lasts"

The Sketch, Dec.11 1923

see 'The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding'

The Lonely God

Royal Magazine, Jul. 1926

Manx Gold

Daily Dispatch, May. 1930

Within a Wall

Royal Magazine, Oct. 1925

The Mystery of the Baghdad Chest

* only "While the Light Lasts"

Strand Magazine, Jan. 1932; The Sketch, Jan. 1932; Ladies Home Journal, Jan. 1932

This story was expanded in 1960 into 'The Mystery of The Spanish Chest'.

The Mystery of The Spanish Chest

* only "The Harlequin Tea Set"

see "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding"

While the Light Lasts

Novel Magazine, Apr. 1924

The Harlequin Tea Set

* only "The Harlequin Tea Set"

see "Problem at Pollensa Bay"

UK/US covers

HarperCollins

other publishers

Western Europe covers

Tant que brillera le jour

French index


Le Masque (#2454) 2001

Zolang het licht is

Dutch index


Solange es hell ist

German index


Northern Europe covers

I mørket skal jeg ikke glemme

Danish index


Før lyset faller

Norwegian index


Kirstun arvoitus

Finnish index


Southern Europe covers

La casa dei sogni

Italian index


Un dios solitario y otros relatos

Spanish index


Enquanto Houver Luz / O Dilema

Portuguese index

Enquanto Houver Luz


O Dilema


Όσο Διαρκεί το Φως

Greek index


Servis za čaj „Arlekin“

former Yugoslavia index


Сервисот за чај Арлекин

former Yugoslavia index


Eastern Europe covers

Mrtvá v knihovně

Czech index


Az Álmok háza

Hungarian index


Докато светлините греят

Bulgarian index


Dopóki starczy światła

Polish index


Доколе длится свет

Russian index


Middle East & Asian covers

Işıklar Sönünce

Turkish index


(Hebrew)

Hebrew index


طالما استمر الضوء

Arabic index


روشنایی ماندگار

Persian index


බැග්ඩෑඩ් පෙට්ටගමේ අබිරහස

South Asia index


Selagi Hari Terang

Indonesian index


บนขอบเหว

Thai index


灯火阑珊 / 殘光夜影

Chinese index

灯火阑珊


殘光夜影


マン島の黄金

Japanese index


빛이 있는 동안 // 애거서 크리스티 전집

Korean index