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There is certainly a xenophobic strain in the Chronicles of Narnia, most evident in what is otherwise my favorite book in the series, "The horse and his boy." I can only think that to Lewis's ear, the word "Turkish" had a certain brutality to it that contrasted well with "delight" and paired well with Edmund's perdition.

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You're really shoving a square peg into a round hole there. It was an exotic and expensive treat.

Enh, maybe. But a few counterpoints: 1. We can assume C.S. Lewis intended a lot. Don't confuse the ease of his style with careless choices. 2. Have you read The Horse and his Boy? C.S. Lewis specifically talks crap about food that sounds Arab. Like almond chicken. 3. Come on, "Turkish Delight"? It sounds like a kinky sexual position. "Turkish" has a strong association with fascism and brutality in--specifically upper-class--Western culture, (cf., Igby Goes Down, New York City Cops, Lawrence of Arabia).

He didn't invent the name.

He didn't invent most of the words he used.

It would seem to me that most writing consists of two parts: 1.) choosing words from an existing register and 2.) putting them in order.

But feel free to theorize that authors can only apply connotations to words that they invent.

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