Ian McEwan: When were you happiest?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Ian McEwan said elsewhere, not written here

In my mid- to late-20s, in London, beginning to publish, living hand to mouth, having fun. Also now, when love and life and work have finally cohered.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 18 August 2018 source ↗

Others on this question

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Noah Harari Israeli historian and philosopher

Now. I’ve learned to adjust my expectations to reality better than when I was 20 or 10.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 October 2021 source ↗

Rob Delaney American comedian and actor

Probably last night, when I went into my sons’ bedroom and kissed them on their smelly heads.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 21 November 2015 source ↗

Shaun White American snowboarder and skateboarder

Easy – winning the gold medal for the men's half-pipe in Vancouver.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 13 March 2010 source ↗

Winston Churchill Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1940–1945 and 1951–1955; Member of Parliament 1900–1964

But the years 1895 to 1900 which are the staple of this story exceed in vividness, variety and exertion anything I have known—except of course the opening months of the Great War. When I look back upon them I cannot but return my sincere thanks to the high gods for the gift of existence. All the days were good and each day better than the other. Ups and downs, risks and journeys, but always the sense of motion, and the illusion of hope.

Recorded Chapter of his autobiography, written at Chartwell in 1930, Winston S. Churchill, My Early Life (Thornton Butterworth, 1930), Project Gutenberg Canada, October 1930 source ↗