diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py b/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
index f9214fbd09..6824db280a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/book_details.py
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ from collections import namedtuple
 from functools import partial
 from qt.core import (
     QAction, QApplication, QClipboard, QColor, QDialog, QEasingCurve, QIcon,
-    QKeySequence, QLayout, QMenu, QMimeData, QPainter, QPen, QPixmap,
+    QKeySequence, QMenu, QMimeData, QPainter, QPen, QPixmap,
     QPropertyAnimation, QRect, QSize, QSizePolicy, Qt, QUrl, QWidget, pyqtProperty,
-    pyqtSignal
+    QTimer, pyqtSignal
 )
 
 from calibre import fit_image, sanitize_file_name
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from calibre.gui2.dialogs.confirm_delete import confirm, confirm as confirm_dele
 from calibre.gui2.dnd import (
     dnd_get_files, dnd_get_image, dnd_has_extension, dnd_has_image, image_extensions
 )
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import BasicSplitter
 from calibre.gui2.widgets2 import HTMLDisplay
 from calibre.utils.config import tweaks
 from calibre.utils.img import blend_image, image_from_x
@@ -548,6 +549,9 @@ class CoverView(QWidget):  # {{{
     def setCurrentPixmapSize(self, val):
         self._current_pixmap_size = val
 
+    def minimumSizeHint(self):
+        return QSize(100, 100)
+
     def do_layout(self):
         if self.rect().width() == 0 or self.rect().height() == 0:
             return
@@ -652,7 +656,7 @@ class CoverView(QWidget):  # {{{
         book_id = self.data.get('id')
         if not book_id:
             return
-        from calibre.utils.img import image_from_x, remove_borders_from_image
+        from calibre.utils.img import remove_borders_from_image
         img = image_from_x(self.pixmap)
         nimg = remove_borders_from_image(img)
         if nimg is not img:
@@ -910,54 +914,56 @@ class BookInfo(HTMLDisplay):
 # }}}
 
 
-class DetailsLayout(QLayout):  # {{{
+class DetailsLayout(BasicSplitter):  # {{{
 
     def __init__(self, vertical, parent):
-        QLayout.__init__(self, parent)
+        orientation = Qt.Orientation.Vertical if vertical else Qt.Orientation.Horizontal
+        BasicSplitter.__init__(self, orientation, parent)
         self.vertical = vertical
+        self.setCollapsible(0, True)
+
         self._children = []
 
         self.min_size = QSize(190, 200) if vertical else QSize(120, 120)
         self.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.restore_geometry(gprefs, 'book_details_splitter')
+        self.splitterMoved.connect(self.do_splitter_moved)
 
     def minimumSize(self):
         return QSize(self.min_size)
 
-    def addItem(self, child):
+    def addWidget(self, child):
         if len(self._children) > 2:
             raise ValueError('This layout can only manage two children')
         self._children.append(child)
 
-    def itemAt(self, i):
-        try:
-            return self._children[i]
-        except:
-            pass
-        return None
-
-    def takeAt(self, i):
-        try:
-            self._children.pop(i)
-        except:
-            pass
-        return None
-
     def count(self):
         return len(self._children)
 
     def sizeHint(self):
         return QSize(self.min_size)
 
+    def restore_splitter_state(self):
+        s = gprefs.get('book_details_widget_splitter_state')
+        if s is not None:
+            self.restoreState(s)
+        self.setOrientation(Qt.Orientation.Vertical if self.vertical else Qt.Orientation.Horizontal)
+
     def setGeometry(self, r):
-        QLayout.setGeometry(self, r)
+        BasicSplitter.setGeometry(self, r)
         self.do_layout(r)
+        self.restore_splitter_state()
+
+    def do_splitter_moved(self, *args):
+        gprefs['book_details_widget_splitter_state'] = bytearray(self.saveState())
+        self._children[0].do_layout()
 
     def cover_height(self, r):
-        if not self._children[0].widget().isVisible():
+        if not self._children[0].isVisible():
             return 0
         mh = min(int(r.height()//2), int(4/3 * r.width())+1)
         try:
-            ph = self._children[0].widget().pixmap.height()
+            ph = self._children[0].pixmap.height()
         except:
             ph = 0
         if ph > 0:
@@ -965,11 +971,11 @@ class DetailsLayout(QLayout):  # {{{
         return mh
 
     def cover_width(self, r):
-        if not self._children[0].widget().isVisible():
+        if not self._children[0].isVisible():
             return 0
         mw = 1 + int(3/4 * r.height())
         try:
-            pw = self._children[0].widget().pixmap.width()
+            pw = self._children[0].pixmap.width()
         except:
             pw = 0
         if pw > 0:
@@ -979,7 +985,11 @@ class DetailsLayout(QLayout):  # {{{
     def do_layout(self, rect):
         if len(self._children) != 2:
             return
-        left, top, right, bottom = self.getContentsMargins()
+        cm = self.contentsMargins()
+        left = cm.left()
+        top = cm.top()
+        right = cm.right()
+        bottom = cm.top()
         r = rect.adjusted(+left, +top, -right, -bottom)
         x = r.x()
         y = r.y()
@@ -987,20 +997,20 @@ class DetailsLayout(QLayout):  # {{{
         if self.vertical:
             ch = self.cover_height(r)
             cover.setGeometry(QRect(x, y, r.width(), ch))
-            cover.widget().do_layout()
             y += ch + 5
             details.setGeometry(QRect(x, y, r.width(), r.height()-ch-5))
         else:
             cw = self.cover_width(r)
             cover.setGeometry(QRect(x, y, cw, r.height()))
-            cover.widget().do_layout()
             x += cw + 5
             details.setGeometry(QRect(x, y, r.width() - cw - 5, r.height()))
-
+        self.restore_splitter_state() # only required on first call to do_layout, but ...
+        self.save_geometry(gprefs, 'book_details_splitter')
+        cover.do_layout()
 # }}}
 
 
-class BookDetails(QWidget):  # {{{
+class BookDetails(DetailsLayout):  # {{{
 
     show_book_info = pyqtSignal()
     open_containing_folder = pyqtSignal(int)
@@ -1072,11 +1082,10 @@ class BookDetails(QWidget):  # {{{
     # }}}
 
     def __init__(self, vertical, parent=None):
-        QWidget.__init__(self, parent)
+        DetailsLayout.__init__(self, vertical, parent)
         self.last_data = {}
         self.setAcceptDrops(True)
-        self._layout = DetailsLayout(vertical, self)
-        self.setLayout(self._layout)
+        self._layout = self
         self.current_path = ''
 
         self.cover_view = CoverView(vertical, self)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/book_info.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/book_info.py
index d2963e4993..6d2d1954b1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/book_info.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/book_info.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import textwrap
 from qt.core import (
     QAction, QApplication, QBrush, QCheckBox, QDialog, QGridLayout,
     QHBoxLayout, QIcon, QKeySequence, QLabel, QListView, QModelIndex, QPalette,
-    QPixmap, QPushButton, QShortcut, QSize, QSplitter, Qt, QTimer, QToolButton,
+    QPixmap, QPushButton, QShortcut, QSize, Qt, QTimer, QToolButton,
     QVBoxLayout, QWidget, pyqtSignal, QDialogButtonBox
 )
 
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from calibre.gui2.book_details import (
     set_html
 )
 from calibre.gui2.ui import get_gui
-from calibre.gui2.widgets import CoverView
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import CoverView, BasicSplitter
 from calibre.gui2.widgets2 import Dialog, HTMLDisplay
 
 
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class BookInfo(QDialog):
         QDialog.__init__(self, parent)
         self.marked = None
         self.gui = parent
-        self.splitter = QSplitter(self)
+        self.splitter = BasicSplitter(self)
         self._l = l = QVBoxLayout(self)
         self.setLayout(l)
         l.addWidget(self.splitter)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/check_library.py b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/check_library.py
index e39e889d2b..a5d0607ec9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/check_library.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/dialogs/check_library.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import os
 import weakref
 from qt.core import (
     QApplication, QCheckBox, QCursor, QDialog, QDialogButtonBox, QGridLayout,
-    QHBoxLayout, QIcon, QLabel, QLineEdit, QProgressBar, QPushButton, QSplitter,
+    QHBoxLayout, QIcon, QLabel, QLineEdit, QProgressBar, QPushButton,
     QStackedLayout, Qt, QTextEdit, QTreeWidget, QTreeWidgetItem, QVBoxLayout,
     QWidget, pyqtSignal
 )
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from threading import Thread
 
 from calibre import as_unicode, prints
 from calibre.gui2.dialogs.confirm_delete import confirm
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import BasicSplitter
 from calibre.library.check_library import CHECKS, CheckLibrary
 from calibre.utils.recycle_bin import delete_file, delete_tree
 
@@ -125,13 +126,14 @@ class CheckLibraryDialog(QDialog):
 
         self._tl = QHBoxLayout()
         self.setLayout(self._tl)
-        self.splitter = QSplitter(self)
+        self.splitter = BasicSplitter(self)
         self.left = QWidget(self)
         self.splitter.addWidget(self.left)
         self.helpw = QTextEdit(self)
         self.splitter.addWidget(self.helpw)
         self._tl.addWidget(self.splitter)
         self._layout = QVBoxLayout()
+        self._layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
         self.left.setLayout(self._layout)
         self.helpw.setReadOnly(True)
         self.helpw.setText(_('''\
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
index 9f78df508c..900ef01b6b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from calibre.gui2.library.alternate_views import GridView
 from calibre.gui2.library.views import BooksView, DeviceBooksView
 from calibre.gui2.notify import get_notifier
 from calibre.gui2.tag_browser.ui import TagBrowserWidget
-from calibre.gui2.widgets import LayoutButton, Splitter
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import LayoutButton, Splitter, BasicSplitter
 from calibre.utils.config import prefs
 from calibre.utils.icu import sort_key
 from calibre.utils.localization import localize_website_link
@@ -112,10 +112,10 @@ class LibraryViewMixin:  # {{{
     # }}}
 
 
-class QuickviewSplitter(QSplitter):  # {{{
+class QuickviewSplitter(BasicSplitter):  # {{{
 
     def __init__(self, parent=None, orientation=Qt.Orientation.Vertical, qv_widget=None):
-        QSplitter.__init__(self, parent=parent, orientation=orientation)
+        BasicSplitter.__init__(self, parent=parent, orientation=orientation)
         self.splitterMoved.connect(self.splitter_moved)
         self.setChildrenCollapsible(False)
         self.qv_widget = qv_widget
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class QuickviewSplitter(QSplitter):  # {{{
         gprefs['quickview_dialog_heights'] = self.sizes()
 
     def resizeEvent(self, *args):
-        QSplitter.resizeEvent(self, *args)
+        BasicSplitter.resizeEvent(self, *args)
         if self.sizes()[1] != 0:
             gprefs['quickview_dialog_heights'] = self.sizes()
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
index b449234017..0525eff188 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from functools import partial
 from qt.core import (
     QDialog, QDialogButtonBox, QFrame, QGridLayout, QGroupBox, QHBoxLayout, QIcon,
     QInputDialog, QKeySequence, QMenu, QPushButton, QScrollArea, QShortcut, QSize,
-    QSizePolicy, QSpacerItem, QSplitter, Qt, QTabWidget, QToolButton, QVBoxLayout,
+    QSizePolicy, QSpacerItem, Qt, QTabWidget, QToolButton, QVBoxLayout,
     QWidget, pyqtSignal
 )
 
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from calibre.gui2.metadata.basic_widgets import (
     TitleSortEdit, show_locked_file_error
 )
 from calibre.gui2.metadata.single_download import FullFetch
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import BasicSplitter
 from calibre.gui2.widgets2 import CenteredToolButton
 from calibre.library.comments import merge_comments as merge_two_comments
 from calibre.utils.date import local_tz
@@ -731,13 +732,13 @@ class MetadataSingleDialogBase(QDialog):
     # }}}
 
 
-class Splitter(QSplitter):
+class Splitter(BasicSplitter):
 
     frame_resized = pyqtSignal(object)
 
     def resizeEvent(self, ev):
         self.frame_resized.emit(ev)
-        return QSplitter.resizeEvent(self, ev)
+        return BasicSplitter.resizeEvent(self, ev)
 
 
 class MetadataSingleDialog(MetadataSingleDialogBase):  # {{{
@@ -1039,7 +1040,7 @@ class MetadataSingleDialogAlt1(MetadataSingleDialogBase):  # {{{
             QSizePolicy.Policy.Expanding))
         wgl.addWidget(self.formats_manager)
 
-        self.splitter = QSplitter(Qt.Orientation.Horizontal, tab1)
+        self.splitter = BasicSplitter(Qt.Orientation.Horizontal, tab1)
         tab1.l.addWidget(self.splitter)
         self.splitter.addWidget(self.cover)
         self.splitter.addWidget(wsp)
@@ -1207,7 +1208,7 @@ class MetadataSingleDialogAlt2(MetadataSingleDialogBase):  # {{{
         cover_layout.addLayout(hl)
         sto(self.cover.buttons[-2], self.cover.buttons[-1])
         # Splitter for both cover & formats boxes
-        self.cover_and_formats = cover_and_formats = QSplitter(Qt.Orientation.Vertical)
+        self.cover_and_formats = cover_and_formats = BasicSplitter(Qt.Orientation.Vertical)
         # Put a very small margin on the left so that the word "Cover" doesn't
         # touch the splitter
         cover_and_formats.setContentsMargins(1, 0, 0, 0)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single_download.py b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single_download.py
index ab07afd0b2..29abe1d871 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single_download.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/metadata/single_download.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from qt.core import (
     QWidget, QTableView, QGridLayout, QPalette, QTimer, pyqtSignal,
     QAbstractTableModel, QSize, QListView, QPixmap, QModelIndex,
     QAbstractListModel, QRect, QTextBrowser, QStringListModel, QMenu, QItemSelectionModel,
-    QCursor, QHBoxLayout, QPushButton, QSizePolicy, QSplitter, QAbstractItemView)
+    QCursor, QHBoxLayout, QPushButton, QSizePolicy, QAbstractItemView)
 
 from calibre.customize.ui import metadata_plugins
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import authors_to_string, rating_to_stars
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from calibre.ebooks.metadata.book.base import Metadata
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata.opf2 import OPF
 from calibre.gui2 import error_dialog, rating_font, gprefs
 from calibre.gui2.progress_indicator import SpinAnimator
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import BasicSplitter
 from calibre.gui2.widgets2 import HTMLDisplay
 from calibre.utils.date import (utcnow, fromordinal, format_date,
         UNDEFINED_DATE, as_utc)
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class IdentifyWidget(QWidget):  # {{{
         self.top.setWordWrap(True)
         l.addWidget(self.top)
 
-        self.splitter = s = QSplitter(self)
+        self.splitter = s = BasicSplitter(self)
         s.setChildrenCollapsible(False)
         l.addWidget(s, 100)
         self.results_view = ResultsView(self)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py b/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py
index 239830896c..d2f2a11bc8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@
 # License: GPLv3 Copyright: 2018, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
 
-from qt.core import QSplitter, QTableView
+from qt.core import QTableView
 
 from calibre.gui2.library import DEFAULT_SORT
 from calibre.gui2 import gprefs
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import BasicSplitter
 
 
 class PinTableView(QTableView):
@@ -124,10 +125,10 @@ class PinTableView(QTableView):
                 self.apply_state(state)
 
 
-class PinContainer(QSplitter):
+class PinContainer(BasicSplitter):
 
     def __init__(self, books_view, parent=None):
-        QSplitter.__init__(self, parent)
+        BasicSplitter.__init__(self, parent)
         self.setChildrenCollapsible(False)
         self.books_view = books_view
         self.addWidget(books_view)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/tweaks.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/tweaks.py
index 28d16fc808..8770e334b6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/tweaks.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/tweaks.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from calibre import isbytestring, prepare_string_for_xml
 from calibre.gui2 import error_dialog, info_dialog
 from calibre.gui2.preferences import AbortCommit, ConfigWidgetBase, test_widget
 from calibre.gui2.search_box import SearchBox2
-from calibre.gui2.widgets import PythonHighlighter
+from calibre.gui2.widgets import PythonHighlighter, BasicSplitter
 from calibre.utils.config_base import (default_tweaks_raw, exec_tweaks,
                                        normalize_tweak, read_custom_tweaks,
                                        write_custom_tweaks)
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ from qt.core import (QAbstractItemView, QAbstractListModel, QApplication,
                      QComboBox, QDialog, QDialogButtonBox, QFont, QGridLayout,
                      QGroupBox, QIcon, QItemSelectionModel, QLabel, QListView,
                      QMenu, QModelIndex, QPlainTextEdit, QPushButton,
-                     QSizePolicy, QSplitter, Qt, QVBoxLayout, QWidget,
+                     QSizePolicy, Qt, QVBoxLayout, QWidget,
                      pyqtSignal)
 
 ROOT = QModelIndex()
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase):
             _("Values for the tweaks are shown below. Edit them to change the behavior of calibre."
               " Your changes will only take effect <b>after a restart</b> of calibre."))
         l.addWidget(la), la.setWordWrap(True)
-        self.splitter = s = QSplitter(self)
+        self.splitter = s = BasicSplitter(self)
         s.setChildrenCollapsible(False)
         l.addWidget(s, 10)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
index d54955df13..afdcdfa8e7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/ui.py
@@ -434,6 +434,9 @@ class Main(MainWindow, MainWindowMixin, DeviceMixin, EmailMixin,  # {{{
         # layout button. We need to let a book be selected in the book list
         # before initializing quickview, so run it after an event loop tick
         QTimer.singleShot(0, self.start_quickview)
+        # Force repaint of the book details splitter because it otherwise ends
+        # up with the wrong size. I don't know why.
+        QTimer.singleShot(0, self.bd_splitter.repaint)
 
     def start_quickview(self):
         from calibre.gui2.actions.show_quickview import get_quickview_action_plugin
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
index 562501a085..25fdce5771 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
@@ -980,13 +980,48 @@ class PythonHighlighter(QSyntaxHighlighter):  # {{{
 
 # Splitter {{{
 
+class BasicSplitterHandle(QSplitterHandle):
 
-class SplitterHandle(QSplitterHandle):
+    def __init__(self, orientation, splitter):
+        QSplitterHandle.__init__(self, orientation, splitter)
+        self.handle_width = splitter.handleWidth()
+
+    def paintEvent(self, event):
+        rect = event.rect()
+        painter = QPainter(self)
+        # draw the separator bar.
+        painter.setPen(Qt.NoPen)
+        palette = QApplication.palette()
+        painter.setBrush(palette.color(QPalette.ColorGroup.Normal, QPalette.ColorRole.AlternateBase))
+        painter.drawRect(rect)
+        # draw the dots
+        painter.setBrush(palette.color(QPalette.ColorGroup.Normal, QPalette.ColorRole.Shadow))
+        horizontal = self.orientation() == Qt.Orientation.Horizontal
+        dot_count = 6
+        dot_size = int(max(1, self.handle_width/2))
+        start_point = max(0, int((rect.height()/2 if horizontal else rect.width()/2) - (dot_count*dot_size/2)))
+        for i in range(dot_count):
+            # Move the rect to leave 2 dot spaces between the dots
+            if horizontal:
+                dot_rect = QRect(1, start_point + i*dot_size*3, dot_size, dot_size)
+            else:
+                dot_rect = QRect(start_point + i*dot_size*3, 1, dot_size, dot_size)
+            painter.drawRect(dot_rect)
+        painter.end()
+
+
+class BasicSplitter(QSplitter):
+
+    def createHandle(self):
+        return BasicSplitterHandle(self.orientation(), self)
+
+
+class SplitterHandle(BasicSplitterHandle):
 
     double_clicked = pyqtSignal(object)
 
     def __init__(self, orientation, splitter):
-        QSplitterHandle.__init__(self, orientation, splitter)
+        BasicSplitterHandle.__init__(self, orientation, splitter)
         splitter.splitterMoved.connect(self.splitter_moved,
                 type=Qt.ConnectionType.QueuedConnection)
         self.double_clicked.connect(splitter.double_clicked,
@@ -1066,7 +1101,7 @@ class LayoutButton(QToolButton):
         return QToolButton.mouseReleaseEvent(self, ev)
 
 
-class Splitter(QSplitter):
+class Splitter(BasicSplitter):
 
     state_changed = pyqtSignal(object)
     reapply_sizes = pyqtSignal(object)
@@ -1075,7 +1110,7 @@ class Splitter(QSplitter):
             initial_side_size=120, connect_button=True,
             orientation=Qt.Orientation.Horizontal, side_index=0, parent=None,
             shortcut=None, hide_handle_on_single_panel=True):
-        QSplitter.__init__(self, parent)
+        BasicSplitter.__init__(self, parent)
         self.reapply_sizes.connect(self.setSizes, type=Qt.ConnectionType.QueuedConnection)
         self.hide_handle_on_single_panel = hide_handle_on_single_panel
         if hide_handle_on_single_panel:
@@ -1189,7 +1224,7 @@ class Splitter(QSplitter):
 
     def do_resize(self, *args):
         orig = self.desired_side_size
-        QSplitter.resizeEvent(self, self._resize_ev)
+        BasicSplitter.resizeEvent(self, self._resize_ev)
         if orig > 20 and self.desired_show:
             c = 0
             while abs(self.side_index_size - orig) > 10 and c < 5: