NPR's Book of the Day

Episode: In 'The Hacienda,' the protagonist is trapped in a haunted house – and her marriage
Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Aisha Rascoe
Guest: Isabel Cañe (author of The Hacienda)

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Isabel Cañe and her debut novel, The Hacienda, a gripping Gothic horror set in post-independence Mexico. The book explores not just chilling supernatural hauntings but also the realities of social confinement, particularly for women of the era. Cañe discusses the inspirations behind her novel, the role of cultural and historical context, and how she crafted a protagonist who refuses to be a mere victim. The conversation covers haunted house tropes, Mexican history, syncretism in spiritual practices, and the ongoing resonance of these themes today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Haunted House as a Metaphor for Entrapment

• Opening Context ([00:02]):
  Andrew Limbong expresses skepticism about haunted house stories, questioning why characters don’t simply leave.
  • “If you're a character in a haunted house story, just don't go inside. Or if you own the place, just get a realtor and move. ... But in the 2022 book The Hacienda, our hero is trapped in a haunted house because she's stuck in a marriage and she's got nowhere else to go, which is something that's extremely relatable.”
• Beatriz’s Situation ([01:21]):
  Aisha Rascoe lays out the protagonist’s limited choices—her family is disgraced and homeless, leading her to a hastily accepted marriage with a wealthy man of secrets.
  • “She never asked what really happened to his first wife. Rookie mistake. That’s how the action starts in The Hacienda.”

2. Atmosphere and Haunted House Tropes

• Gaslighting and Isolation ([02:25]):
  Isabel Cañe describes how Beatriz is left alone in her new home while her husband works in Mexico City. The other inhabitants avoid certain parts of the house and deny any supernatural occurrences, amplifying Beatriz’s isolation and doubt.
  • “She quickly discovers that this place is profoundly haunted. But nobody seems to believe her...she’s kind of gaslit by the other people who live on the hacienda.”
• Seeking Help:
  Beatriz seeks out Padre Andrés, a young priest with secrets of his own, breaking the mold of traditional Gothic support characters.

3. Personal Inspiration & Childhood Fears

• Origin of the Haunted House Fascination ([03:24]):
  Cañe’s fear of the dark and childhood in a creepy 1920s house influenced her. Being sent to the basement for misbehavior heightened her imagination and sense of lurking danger.
  • “I knew there was something in this house, particularly in the basement, that just felt watchful and felt uncomfortable… if I was very bad, [time out] was at the bottom of the basement stairs.” ([03:24])
• Birth of the Novel ([04:22]):
  The spark for The Hacienda came during a thunderstorm on her honeymoon in Mexico City, following a string of professional rejections.
  • “I heard this voice, like, as clear as the toll of a church bell...and those words became the first chapter, the first pages of The Hacienda.” ([04:22])

4. Historical Context: Post-Mexican War of Independence

• Why this Era? ([05:20]):
  Cañe is fascinated by the period’s turmoil, social upheaval, and the enduring effects of colonial systems like the casta system (race-based social hierarchy).
  • “It's a period in which we see the seeds and saplings...of many conflicts that persist...colonialism, colorism, the casta system.” ([05:32])

5. Cultural Syncretism and Spirituality

• Religious Influences ([05:32]):
  Raised Catholic, Cañe wanted to explore syncretism between Catholicism and indigenous traditions—still visible in modern observances like Dia de Muertos.
  • “I really wanted to see that reflected in characters...Padre Andrés...and in the witchcraft that he practices...from both sides of his family, from the indigenous part...and the European side.”
• Padre Andrés as a Witch ([07:01]):
  The “priest” character subverts expectations, merging European and indigenous magical traditions.
  • “It's on the back cover copy.” ([07:08]) — Isabel Cañe, confirming that Padre Andrés is a witch.

6. Reimagining the Gothic Heroine

• Beatriz’s Evolution ([07:30]):
  Rascoe notes that Beatriz is more assertive than traditional Gothic heroines. Cañe agrees, crediting the haunting with stripping away social differences and forcing Beatriz into survival mode.
  • “The haunting has a way of stripping away the social differences...because they’re all at the mercy of this powerful, uncontrollable, malicious presence.” ([08:07])
  • “She’s a fighter. She often says she’s the daughter of a general. She’s not going to go down without a fight.”

7. Personal Triumphs and What’s Next

• Balancing Academia and Writing ([08:48]):
  Cañe reveals she is defending her PhD dissertation in Near Eastern languages and civilizations the day before her debut novel releases.
  • “Everyone thinks I’m a bit crazy, but it’s the way that I’ve managed to keep myself from going crazy.” ([09:03])
• Future Projects ([09:10]):
  Her next book will also mix 19th-century Mexican history, supernatural elements, and romance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why people stay in haunted houses:
  “Our hero is trapped in a haunted house because she's stuck in a marriage and she's got nowhere else to go, which is something that's extremely relatable.” — Andrew Limbong, [00:15]

• Childhood inspiration for horror:
  “When I misbehaved, which I often did as a mouthy five year old, I got sent to the timeout corner, which, if I was very bad, was at the bottom of the basement stairs.” — Isabel Cañe, [03:38]

• On the haunting stripping away class divisions:
  “The haunting has a way of stripping away the social differences...because they're all at the mercy of this powerful, uncontrollable, malicious presence.” — Isabel Cañe, [08:07]

• Joking about Padre Andrés’ supernatural identity:
  “It’s on the back cover copy.” — Isabel Cañe, [07:08]
  “I didn't want to do no spoilers, but he is. But he is a witch.” — Aisha Rascoe, [07:09]

• On persevering through rejection:
  “I can't say much about [my next book] yet, except that it also includes the three themes that I think make The Hacienda: 19th century Mexican history, a real strong helping of the supernatural and of romance.” — Isabel Cañe, [09:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Protagonist’s plight & premise: [01:21] – [02:02]
• The haunted house reveals: [02:25] – [03:03]
• Author’s childhood fears: [03:24] – [04:22]
• Novel inspiration and writing process: [04:22] – [05:20]
• Historical & cultural context: [05:20] – [07:01]
• Padre Andrés’ secrets: [07:01] – [07:14]
• Reimagining the Gothic heroine: [07:30] – [08:39]
• Personal triumph and next steps: [08:48] – [09:26]

Tone and Style

The conversation is warm, candid, and insightful, blending personal anecdotes with intellectual exploration. Both Rascoe and Cañe display humor and depth, making the episode accessible and compelling for listeners interested in gothic fiction, Mexican history, or the writing life.

For readers and listeners seeking an atmospheric, layered haunted house tale grounded in history and the psychological realities of confinement, Isabel Cañe’s The Hacienda makes a compelling case—and this episode is an engaging primer on its origins and themes.