Narnia and the myth of Turkish Delight

[GilliC]

I found this amusing and worth a share:

C.S. Lewis’s Greatest Fiction Was Convincing American Kids That They Would Like Turkish Delight
www.atlasobscura.com/articles/cs-lewis-greatest-fiction-convincing-american-kids-that-they-would-like-turkish-delight

Did you know what Turkish Delight was when you first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? What did you imagine it was like? What do you really think of it?

[GilliC]

I imagined it was like nougat. Probably because of the shape (after seeing pictures of it). I can't remember what I thought the very first time I read it, but it was probably something like divinity (I was really into divinity at that age), which may have contributed to the nougat idea later on.

I hated Turkish Delight when I first tried it, because I was disappointed, and because it was a gross long-shelf-life variety. I pretty much swore it off until I was convinced to try a fresher, higher quality example. Definitely an improvement. I have since found that I really like some varieties and some flavors, but there are also plenty that I'll happily pass up!

[oliviapope]

I read the book in 4th grade I think. I had no idea what it was and can't really remember what I imagined it being. I do remember being very disappointed when my teacher brought it in for us to try so I must have had something else in mind. I haven't had it since so I don't know if I still don't care for it.

[noradog]

I'm surprised someone in the article had the same mental image as I always have. I've always thought I was the only weird one out there on this subject.

From the first time I read the book, Turkish Delight has stuck in my sense memory as Thanksgiving Dressing/Stuffing. Doesn't matter that once I got a little older I knew it was a candy/sweet, in my head it will always be my grandmother's cornbread dressing. In that context and that book it will never change for me. I even thought it was weird in the movie when he wasn't eating dressing (and I'm talking about the 2005 movie.  I was 28 when it came out, lol). Apparently, in Narnia, I'm still about 7 and reality will not impinge.

[dorothyinAus]

I've actually never read any of the Narnia books, but my BFF had and any discussion of them or C.S. Lewis has always involved her comment that she thought Turkish Delight was something fantastic and how disappointed she was when she finally got the chance to try it. I have heard this for decades -- from almost the moment we met in high school.

I actually like Turkish Delight, but not the Fry's/Cadbury bars commonly and easily available in the stores here -- and I'm not sure if it's the flavor of the jelly candy, the chocolate coating (I honestly do not like Cadbury milk chocolate), or the combination of everything. I'll eat the Turkish Delights in the Favorites or Roses boxes, but I'd really prefer it if I could get them without the chocolate.

I think true Turkish Delight is an excellent candy. But I'm obviously in the minority. I thought it was wonderful long before I realized that C.S. Lewis was supposed to have pulled a fast one on the American reading public.

[snshne322]

I saw the movie (original) before reading the book so I think I had a reasonable idea of what it was. I remember seeing it cut into squares with what looked like powdered sugar. For some reason it made me think of marzipan, which I'm not really a fan of so I kind of wrote of liking Turkish Delight. I still have never tried it though.