old england, new england

years from now, after the aliens have colonised us, they may amuse themselves by writing the history of england. when they do they'll have no difficulty identifying the signal event in english history. it won't be the norman invasion, or the arrival of st. augustine, or the unfortunate signing of the mäastricht treaty. no. it will be the advent of jade goody. there is england before jade, and england after jade. she forms a perfectly clean break between the two. even now the two countries are almost unrecognisable.