Doris Lessing's Martha Quest, the first volume of her five-novel sequence The Children of Violence, is published.

Evelyn Waugh's novel Men at Arms is published.

Angus Wilson's novel Hemlock and After is published.

Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot opens.

Marc Chagall's artwork The Green Night is exhibited.

Raoul Dufy's painting The Pink Violin is exhibited.

Georges Rouault's artwork End of Autumn is exhibited.

Vittoria de Sica's film Umberto D opens.

At the Olympic Games in Helsinki, the United States wins forty-three gold medals to twenty-two for the Soviet Union and twenty-two for Hungary.

12 Feb.

The Civil Aeronautics Board limits transatlantic air service to regularly scheduled lines.

6 Feb.

Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen of England on the death of her father, King George VI.

10 Mar.

Former Cuban president Fulgencia Batista y Zaldivar becomes dictator after overthrowing President Prio Soccaras in a military coup.

14 Mar.

The UN's Economic and Social Council's...