Behind the Story: The Inspiration and Themes of The Education of Joshua Chastain

One of the most frequent questions I receive about The Education of Joshua Chastain is whether the novel is autobiographical. The answer, like the novel itself, is complex. While certain episodes are drawn from my own experiences as a gay man raised in the Mormon Church, much of the story also borrows from the real experiences of other gay Mormons I have known. And, of course, a significant portion is purely fictional.

So, this book is ultimately a work of fiction. Although Joshua faces challenges similar to my own—grappling with his sexual orientation, navigating family traditions, and reconciling with LDS teachings—his journey unfolds much faster than mine did. In his late teens, Joshua reaches conclusions that took me until my late twenties to fully accept. In that sense, while it contains an autobiographical undercurrent, the novel is not an autobiography but rather a story framed as a memoir.

The Inspiration Behind the Novel

At its core, The Education of Joshua Chastain was inspired by Joshua himself. The novel begins with two defining childhood experiences: Joshua’s early realization of his attraction to other men and a near-rape incident in which he is molested by an older man. From that point forward, I found myself continuously asking: What would Joshua do?

How would his homosexual desires manifest themselves during adolescence? How would he interpret his first sexual encounters with other men—moments that simultaneously filled him with guilt for violating LDS teachings and gratitude for finding a sense of connection and belonging? These questions, among many others, guided the development of his character and the novel’s narrative.

Themes of Faith, Identity, and Self-Discovery

As I wrote, Joshua’s journey unfolded organically through the challenges he faced. His initial reaction to the Book of Mormon was one of skepticism. His exposure to Fawn Brodie’s critical biography of Joseph Smith forced him to reexamine his beliefs about Mormonism’s founder. He encountered a Harvard-educated psychologist who dismissed the notion of homosexual identity, arguing that homosexuality is a learned behavior rather than an inherent aspect of a person’s identity. Through these intellectual and emotional battles, Joshua had to confront profound questions about his own existence.

Yet, perhaps the most compelling question that guided my writing was: How does Joshua strive to remain a man of faith, even as the religion he grew up in makes no place for him? His journey is one of seeking reconciliation between personal truth and institutional rejection, between self-acceptance and spiritual longing.

A Character That Led the Way

As I wrote, I often felt as though Joshua himself was guiding me, rather than the other way around. His character had an internal logic that demanded my attention. His responses to the challenges he faced had to remain true to his essence, making the writing process an act of discovery rather than mere invention. In this sense, it is no exaggeration to say that Joshua Chastain was the primary inspiration for the novel.

Through his story, I hope readers—regardless of their background—can find resonance with the universal themes of identity, belonging, and the search for authenticity in a world that often demands conformity. Joshua’s journey is deeply personal, yet it speaks to anyone who has ever struggled to reconcile who they are with the expectations imposed upon them.

The Education of Joshua Chastain is not just Joshua’s story—it is a story for all who have ever searched for themselves.