istoryworld
Events relating to europe
Irish dramatist Brendan Behan's play The Hostage is produced in Dublin
French Algerians seize government buildings in Algiers, in a campaign to ensure that Algerian remains French
Chicken Soup with Barley begins a trilogy by English playwright Arnold Wesker
Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita is published in Paris
The national assembly in Paris grants de Gaulle six months of unrestricted power as president – his condition for returning to government
On his second day in power, de Gaulle visits Algiers to confront the settlers with an unwelcome message
The new hard-line Hungarian government headed by János Kádár tries and executes Imre Nagy
John Cranko's version of Romeo and Juliet, to Prokofiev's score, is premiered by La Scala Ballet in Venice
Irish writer Brendan Behan's autobiographical Borstal Boy is published
Polish film director Andrzej Wajda makes Ashes and Diamonds, starring the Polish actor Zbigniew Cybulski
English author Alan Sillitoe publishes his first novel, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
18-year-old British pop singer Cliff Richard has his first hit single with Move It
French citizens approve the new constitution proposed by de Gaulle, thus introducing the Fifth Republic
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is launched in Britain with Bertrand Russell as president
Harold Pinter's first play in London's West End, The Birthday Party, closes in less than a week
The colony of French Guinea opts for immediate independence as the republic of Guinea, breaking its links with France
Angelo Roncalli is elected pope and takes the name John XXIII
Charles de Gaulle is elected first President of France's Fifth Republic
The Conservative party wins the UK general election with their highest ever vote and an increased majority
Iain Macleod, appointed colonial secretary in Macmillan's new government, intends to speed up the independence of British colonies
Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 goes into orbit round the sun, between the orbits of Earth and Mars
Pope John XXIII summons a second Vatican Council
Francis Poulenc and Jean Cocteau collaborate on La Voix Humaine, a concerto for soprano voice and orchestra
Australian soprano Joan Sutherland becomes a star overnight with her performance at Covent Garden in Lucia di Lammermoor
German novelist Günter Grass has an immediate success with his first novel, The Tin Drum
