His writing reveals a negative view of the Alawites and, in particular, he was critical of what he saw as their brigandage, feuds, lying and divorce.[1] He went as far as saying that "the state of [Alawi] society was a perfect hell upon earth".[19] The Asian Mystery became a popular book and has been described as "colourful" but "unreliable" in some respects.[4] Nevertheless, Lyde's account remains an influential source on Alawites, and, for instance, is widely quoted on the internet.[4]