An almost audible sigh of relief seemed to envelop the planet on January 20. This may well have been a liberal illusion but the inauguration of Joe Biden allowed us to believe for one moment that the past four years were an aberration, and that America would awaken and compose itself again.
Culture notes: The king is dead, long live the king
Catherine Fieschi looks at rituals enshrined in the handing over of power in the US, France and Britain
