diff --git a/manual/gui.rst b/manual/gui.rst
index 1bcf53747c..6d75f65542 100755
--- a/manual/gui.rst
+++ b/manual/gui.rst
@@ -582,6 +582,10 @@ Calibre has several keyboard shortcuts to save you time and mouse movement. Thes
       - Open the advanced search dialog
     * - :kbd:`Esc`
       - Clear the current search
+    * - :kbd:`Shift+Esc`
+      - Focus the book list
+    * - :kbd:`Ctrl+Esc`
+      - Clear the virtual library
     * - :kbd:`N or F3`
       - Find the next book that matches the current search (only works if the highlight checkbox next to the search bar is checked)
     * - :kbd:`Shift+N or Shift+F3`
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
index fa3f24d63e..8a5f1ffbb5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
@@ -265,6 +265,20 @@ class Main(MainWindow, MainWindowMixin, DeviceMixin, EmailMixin,  # {{{
                 action=self.esc_action)
         self.esc_action.triggered.connect(self.esc)
 
+        self.shift_esc_action = QAction(self)
+        self.addAction(self.shift_esc_action)
+        self.keyboard.register_shortcut('focus book list',
+                _('Focus the book list'), default_keys=('Shift+Esc',),
+                action=self.shift_esc_action)
+        self.shift_esc_action.triggered.connect(self.shift_esc)
+
+        self.ctrl_esc_action = QAction(self)
+        self.addAction(self.ctrl_esc_action)
+        self.keyboard.register_shortcut('clear virtual library',
+                _('Clear the virtual library'), default_keys=('Ctrl+Esc',),
+                action=self.ctrl_esc_action)
+        self.ctrl_esc_action.triggered.connect(self.ctrl_esc)
+
         ####################### Start spare job server ########################
         QTimer.singleShot(1000, self.add_spare_server)
 
@@ -377,6 +391,13 @@ class Main(MainWindow, MainWindowMixin, DeviceMixin, EmailMixin,  # {{{
     def esc(self, *args):
         self.clear_button.click()
 
+    def shift_esc(self):
+        self.current_view().setFocus(Qt.OtherFocusReason)
+
+    def ctrl_esc(self):
+        self.apply_virtual_library()
+        self.current_view().setFocus(Qt.OtherFocusReason)
+
     def start_smartdevice(self):
         message = None
         if self.device_manager.get_option('smartdevice', 'autostart'):