NPR's Book of the Day

In 'The Hacienda,' the protagonist is trapped in a haunted house – and her marriage

Oct 30, 2025
Isabel Cañas, author of the debut novel The Hacienda, delves into her haunting tale set in post-independence Mexico. She discusses the protagonist Beatriz, who encounters gaslighting amidst supernatural events and a patriarchal household. Themes of colonialism, syncretism, and personal agency arise as Beatriz transforms from a passive bride into a fierce fighter for her own destiny. Isabel also shares her inspirations, including childhood fears and cultural practices, making a case for the rich complexity of her characters and their magic.
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ANECDOTE

Origin Moment In Mexico City

  • Isabel Cañas first sensed a haunted-house voice while on her honeymoon in Mexico City and typed the opening chapter into her phone.
  • The moment came after many rejections and during a thunderstorm, which sparked the novel's beginning.
ANECDOTE

Childhood Basement Fear

  • Isabel recalls being a five-year-old sent to the basement timeout and feeling a watchful presence that fueled her fear of the dark.
  • That childhood experience fed her long-standing desire to write a haunted-house story.
INSIGHT

History Shapes The Haunting

  • Cañas chose the post-independence era to show how colonialism, colorism, and caste systems shaped social tensions that persist.
  • She also highlights syncretism between Catholicism and indigenous practices as central to her characters and themes.
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