Ross and Norris McWhirter publish The Guinness Book of World Records, which sells twenty-four million copies.

Graham Greene's novel The Quiet American is published.

J. R. R. Tolkien's novel Lord of the Rings is published.

Philip Larkin's poetry volume The Less Deceived is published.

Pablo Picasso's painting The Women of Algiers is exhibited.

Salvador Dali's painting The Lord's Supper is exhibited.

Giorgio De Chirico's painting Italian Square is exhibited.

Bernard Buffet's painting Double Portrait of Birdie is exhibited.

The Vienna State Opera House reopens after having been almost completely destroyed by wartime bombing and shelling.

France's Notre Dame du Haut at Ronchamp is completed by Le Corbusier.

British biochemist Dorothy Hodgkins discovers vitamin B-12 (cyanocobalamin). Vitamin B-12 can be used to treat pernicious anemia and other deficiency diseases.

Volkswagen introduces the Kharmann-Ghia two-seat sportscar. The Kharmann company of Osnabruck produced the body while Ghia of Italy designed the car...