L. Adams (Lily Adams) Beck

Born Elizabeth Louisa Moresby in 1862, she wrote under several names, including L. Adams Beck, E. Barrington, and Louis Moresby. She was the daughter of Admiral John Moresby, and her life included years of travel and close contact with places that later shaped her writing, especially in Asia.

Her work ranged across novels, short stories, biographies, and books on religion and esoteric thought. Under the name L. Adams Beck, she became especially known for fiction and nonfiction inspired by India, China, Japan, and other parts of Asia, while E. Barrington was used for popular historical romances and biographical novels.

She died in Kyoto, Japan, on January 3, 1931. Though less widely read today, she remains an interesting figure for readers drawn to early 20th-century popular fiction, spiritual themes, and stories shaped by a life of travel.