diff --git a/resources/default_tweaks.py b/resources/default_tweaks.py
index 750af9efa7..6d4f7a405f 100644
--- a/resources/default_tweaks.py
+++ b/resources/default_tweaks.py
@@ -41,6 +41,20 @@ series_index_auto_increment = 'next'
 # selecting 'manage authors', and pressing 'Recalculate all author sort values'.
 author_sort_copy_method = 'invert'
 
+# Set which author field to display in the tags pane (the list of authors,
+# series, publishers etc on the left hand side). The choices are author and
+# author_sort. This tweak affects only the tags pane, and only what is displayed
+# under the authors category. Please note that if you set this to author_sort,
+# it is very possible to see duplicate names in the list becasue although it is
+# guaranteed that author names are unique, there is no such guarantee for
+# author_sort values. Showing duplicates won't break anything, but it could
+# lead to some confusion. When using 'author_sort', the tooltip will show the
+# author's name.
+# Examples:
+#   tags_pane_use_field_for_author_name = 'author'
+#   tags_pane_use_field_for_author_name = 'author_sort'
+tags_pane_use_field_for_author_name = 'author'
+
 
 # Set whether boolean custom columns are two- or three-valued.
 #  Two-values for true booleans
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_view.py
index f75061da12..a0e26cf77c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tag_view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tag_view.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from PyQt4.Qt import Qt, QTreeView, QApplication, pyqtSignal, \
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import title_sort
 from calibre.gui2 import config, NONE
 from calibre.library.field_metadata import TagsIcons, category_icon_map
+from calibre.utils.config import tweaks
 from calibre.utils.icu import sort_key
 from calibre.utils.search_query_parser import saved_searches
 from calibre.gui2 import error_dialog
@@ -409,17 +410,31 @@ class TagTreeItem(object): # {{{
         return NONE
 
     def tag_data(self, role):
+        tag = self.tag
+        if tag.category == 'authors' and \
+                tweaks['tags_pane_use_field_for_author_name'] == 'author_sort':
+            name = tag.sort
+            tt_author = True
+        else:
+            name = tag.name
+            tt_author = False
         if role == Qt.DisplayRole:
-            if self.tag.count == 0:
-                return QVariant('%s'%(self.tag.name))
+            if tag.count == 0:
+                return QVariant('%s'%(name))
             else:
-                return QVariant('[%d] %s'%(self.tag.count, self.tag.name))
+                return QVariant('[%d] %s'%(tag.count, name))
         if role == Qt.EditRole:
-            return QVariant(self.tag.name)
+            return QVariant(tag.name)
         if role == Qt.DecorationRole:
-            return self.icon_state_map[self.tag.state]
-        if role == Qt.ToolTipRole and self.tag.tooltip is not None:
-            return QVariant(self.tag.tooltip)
+            return self.icon_state_map[tag.state]
+        if role == Qt.ToolTipRole:
+            if tt_author:
+                if tag.tooltip is not None:
+                    return QVariant('(%s) %s'%(tag.name, tag.tooltip))
+                else:
+                    return QVariant(tag.name)
+            if tag.tooltip is not None:
+                return QVariant(tag.tooltip)
         return NONE
 
     def toggle(self):