1658 in literature

The year 1658 in literature involved some significant events.

Events

• Molière arrives in Paris to act at the Louvre.
• Edward Phillips continues the Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Romans' Government unto the Death of King James (originally by Richard Baker) to this date.

New books

• Sir Thomas Browne - The Garden of Cyrus
  • - Hydriotaphia, Urn Burial
• John Gadbury - Genethlialogia, or the Doctrine of Nativities
• Pierre Gassendi - Syntagma philosophicum (published posthumously)
• Christiaan Huygens - Horologium
• Edward Phillips - Mysteries of Love and Eloquence
  • - A New World in Words, or a General Dictionary
• Giambattista della Porta - Natural Magic

New drama

• Sir William Davenant - The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru

Published plays

• William Chamberlaine - Love's Victory
• Sir Aston Cockayne - The Obstinate Lady & Trappolin Suppos'd a Prince in one volume
• Sir William Davenant - The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru
• Thomas Dekker, John Ford, & William Rowley - The Witch of Edmonton
• Sir William Lower - The Amorous Fantasm (adapted from Philippe Quinault's Fantome Amoreux)
  • - The Enchanted Lovers
• Thomas May - The Old Couple
• Jasper Mayne - The City Match
  • - The Amorous War
• Thomas Meriton - Love and War
  • - The Wandering Lover
• Gilbert Swinhoe - Unhappy Fair Irene
• Leonard Willan - Orgula, or the Fatal Error

Poetry

• Sir Aston Cockayne - Small Poems of Divers Sorts

Births

• September 16 - John Dennis, dramatist and critic (died 1734)
• date unknown - Elizabeth Barry, actress (died 1713)

Deaths

• February 3 - Katherine Woodcock, second wife of John Milton
• April 29 - John Cleveland, poet (born 1613)
• November 6 - Pierre du Ryer, dramatist (born 1606)