Dreams and delights

In Short

Dreams and Delights is a collection of Oriental tales and spiritual allegories set across India, China, Japan, and Ceylon. L. Adams Beck crafts luminous stories where mortal lovers, Buddhist monks, and seeking pilgrims cross the boundaries between daily existence and the unseen world. Through historical romances, mystical dreams, and encounters with ancient deities, the characters discover that earthly passion, sacrifice, and cosmic wisdom are deeply intertwined. The book endures for its rich, evocative landscapes and its earnest attempt to translate Eastern philosophy, rebirth, and the timeless search for beauty into narrative form.

The Story

The volume opens with a dedication to the divine feminine—the Mystic Mother of India—framing the tales as glimpses of the soul’s eternal longing. In "V. Lydiat," Beatrice Veronica lives a quiet life while receiving a mysterious dictation each morning on her high veranda. Dropping into a receptive trance, she visits the moonlit Shalimar gardens with a guiding voice named V. Lydiat, learning ancient truths before waking to type her stories. When she marries Martin Welland, her visions fade into ordinary domestic happiness, leaving her content with human love while losing the key to her dreams.

The collection then moves across the geography of Asia. "The Sea of Lilies" follows Lancelot Dunbar, a scholar known as "Brother of the Pen," as he travels from Kashmir to the sacred island of Puto off the coast of China. Among monastic libraries and tranquil seas, he witnesses the gentle harmony of a Buddhist sanctuary where humans and animals live in peaceful confidence. In "The Bride of a God," the scene shifts to seventeenth-century India, where a young woman in Krishnapur is chosen to become the bride of the temple deity Jagannath. Though courted by earthly kings, her pure devotion elevates her above mortal pride, transforming her into a living symbol of divine union.

Darker historical dramas unfold in courtly settings. "The Hidden One" chronicles the secret life of Princess Makhfi, the gifted daughter of the Mughal Emperor. Courted by her arrogant cousin Prince Suleiman—who wagers he can see her hidden face—she uses her wit and poetry to expose his superficial desires, choosing instead a life of quiet mystical reflection and leave behind verses that outshine imperial glory. In "The Marriage of the Princess," royal women in Kashmir gather to recount legends of male infidelity and female devotion, culminating in the tale of Queen Sita's flawless loyalty to King Rama.

Later pieces weave personal travel with philosophy. The narrator journeys through the sacred hills of Ceylon and the mountain trails of Kashmir to the cave of Amarnath, reflecting on reincarnation, the sanctity of animal life, and the spiritual links between past and present existences. The volume closes with "The Man Without a Sword," in which Hay, a Scotch veteran drained of faith by the Great War, visits Japan. Guided by a martial arts master and an ancient Abbot, he practices jujutsu, steps through the "land of True Sight," and discovers that true power lies not in weapons, but in building bridges and cultivating inner peace.

How It Unfolds

The morning vision — A young woman sits on a coastal veranda, falling into a receptive trance where a mysterious voice guides her through ancient, rose-filled gardens.

The pilgrimage to Puto — A Western scholar ventures to a sacred Chinese island, gathering rare manuscripts from monastic libraries surrounded by a tranquil, golden sea.

The divine choice — In a Indian town devoted to Krishna, a maiden prepares for her mystic nuptials with the temple deity, choosing spiritual union over mortal suitors.

The hidden poet — Within the Mughal court, an imperial princess uses her verse and cleverness to reject an unwanted prince, living in quiet contemplation until her death.

The trail to the heights — A pilgrim climbs through the roaring gorges and pine forests of Kashmir, observing holy men and reflecting on the interconnectedness of all life.

The garden of true sight — A disillusioned war veteran in Japan learns the art of jujutsu, gaining access to a timeless realm where an ancient samurai teaches the quiet secret of power.

The People

• Beatrice Veronica: A sensitive young writer who receives mysterious visionary stories in her sleep; she ultimately chooses human domestic affection over cosmic sight.
• V. Lydiat: A enigmatic, disembodied presence who meets Beatrice in dreamlike gardens, serving as her guide to ancient memories and unseen truths.
• Lancelot Dunbar: A dedicated scholar called "Brother of the Pen" who travels between Indian and Chinese monasteries, driven by a deep reverence for Buddhist lore.
• Princess Makhfi: The "Hidden One," an imperial Mughal poetess of sharp intellect and spiritual quietude who fiercely protects her privacy and inner devotion from courtly intrigue.
• Prince Suleiman: An arrogant, dissolute young nobleman who wagers he can unveil Princess Makhfi, only to be turned away by her sharp mind and devotion.
• Hay: A weary Scotch veteran of World War I whose cynicism is healed in Japan when he learns jujutsu and enters a realm of spiritual perception.
• Arima: A Japanese martial arts teacher who guides Hay through physical discipline toward an understanding of his ancestor's peaceful legacy.

In Its Own Voice

"The dream wavers on its foundation, loosens, becomes misty, makes ready to disappear." — In "V. Lydiat," Beatrice senses her visionary meeting in the Shalimar garden fading as morning approaches.

"Enter the House of Love, O Loveliest! Enter the marriage bower, most Beautiful, and take and give the joy that Krishna grants." — In "The Bride of a God," an old Pandit reads aloud the sacred poem celebrating the mystic union of the soul.

"I met a wild hill-rider in the trail between two great rocks, and his unbroken pony kicked out at me savagely with his foreleg." — During the mountain pilgrimage to Amarnath, the narrator recounts a dangerous encounter on the narrow trail.

What It's Really About

Beneath its romantic backdrops and exotic travel accounts, Dreams and Delights investigates the boundary separating physical reality from the spiritual world. Beck presents Eastern philosophies—specifically Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sufi mysticism—not as mere academic subjects, but as living keys to understanding human longing. The stories repeatedly ask whether earthly happiness and spiritual illumination can coexist, or if mortal love requires giving up higher vision. Through recurrent motifs of reincarnation, divine incarnation, and hidden worlds, the text argues that compassionate action, self-discipline, and reverence for all living creatures are the true bridges to peace.

Why Read It Today

Dreams and Delights appeals to readers who enjoy romantic, early twentieth-century orientalism, philosophical fable, and atmospheric travel writing. Beck writes with an lush, sensory prose style that paints vivid pictures of Himalayan gorges, Chinese island sanctuaries, and Mughal marble courts. The reading experience feels like stepping into a slow-paced, hypnotic tapestry of myth and meditation.

Modern readers should be prepared for the literary conventions of the 1920s. The text reflects period Western perspectives on the "Orient," often idealizing Eastern cultures through a romanticized, mystical lens. The narrative pace is contemplative rather than fast-packed, relying heavily on philosophical dialogues, cited scriptures, and poetic passages. Yet for those who appreciate classic prose and spiritual seeker tales, Beck’s earnest reverence for Asian traditions and her sincere exploration of grief, love, and memory make the collection a quiet, atmospheric journey.