The Secret Agent[?] by Joseph Conrad is published. In 2001, the book would be one of four books by Conrad to be on the list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century as selected by the editorial board of the American Modern Library.
... 26 - Ancel Keys, scientist
February 1 - S. J. Perelman[?], humorist, author
February 4 - MacKinlay Kantor[?], historian (+ 1977)
February 5 - Walter Gross[?], ...