diff --git a/src/calibre/db/backend.py b/src/calibre/db/backend.py
index 45ea9b05a4..bb8c23e3e8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/backend.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/backend.py
@@ -428,6 +428,7 @@ class DB(object):
         defs['virtual_lib_on_startup'] = defs['cs_virtual_lib_on_startup'] = ''
         defs['virt_libs_hidden'] = defs['virt_libs_order'] = ()
         defs['update_all_last_mod_dates_on_start'] = False
+        defs['field_under_covers_in_grid'] = 'title'
 
         # Migrate the bool tristate tweak
         defs['bools_are_tristate'] = \
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py
index 44c361e129..56315822f6 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/alternate_views.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ from PyQt4.Qt import (
     QPropertyAnimation, QEasingCurve, pyqtSlot, QHelpEvent, QAbstractItemView,
     QStyleOptionViewItem, QToolTip, QByteArray, QBuffer, QBrush)
 
-from calibre import fit_image, prints, prepare_string_for_xml
+from calibre import fit_image, prints, prepare_string_for_xml, human_readable
+from calibre.constants import DEBUG
 from calibre.ebooks.metadata import fmt_sidx
 from calibre.utils import join_with_timeout
 from calibre.gui2 import gprefs, config
@@ -369,6 +370,23 @@ class CoverDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate):
     def sizeHint(self, option, index):
         return self.item_size
 
+    def render_field(self, db, book_id):
+        try:
+            field = db.pref('field_under_covers_in_grid', 'title')
+            if field == 'size':
+                ans = human_readable(db.field_for(field, book_id, default_value=0))
+            else:
+                mi = db.get_proxy_metadata(book_id)
+                display_name, ans, val, fm = mi.format_field_extended(field)
+                if fm and fm['datatype'] == 'rating':
+                    ans = u'\u2605' * int(val/2.0)
+            return unicode(ans)
+        except Exception:
+            if DEBUG:
+                import traceback
+                traceback.print_exc()
+        return ''
+
     def paint(self, painter, option, index):
         QStyledItemDelegate.paint(self, painter, option, QModelIndex())  # draw the hover and selection highlights
         m = index.model()
@@ -418,7 +436,7 @@ class CoverDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate):
                     rect = trect
                     rect.setTop(rect.bottom() - self.title_height + 5)
                     painter.setRenderHint(QPainter.TextAntialiasing, True)
-                    title = db.field_for('title', book_id, default_value='')
+                    title = self.render_field(db, book_id)
                     metrics = painter.fontMetrics()
                     painter.drawText(rect, Qt.AlignCenter|Qt.TextSingleLine,
                                      metrics.elidedText(title, Qt.ElideRight, rect.width()))
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
index 9e26db4563..e886cf8dec 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.py
@@ -212,6 +212,11 @@ class ConfigWidget(ConfigWidgetBase, Ui_Form):
         r('categories_using_hierarchy', db.prefs, setting=CommaSeparatedList,
           choices=sorted(list(choices), key=sort_key))
 
+        fm = db.field_metadata
+        choices = sorted(((fm[k]['name'], k) for k in fm.displayable_field_keys() if fm[k]['name']),
+                         key=lambda x:sort_key(x[0]))
+        r('field_under_covers_in_grid', db.prefs, choices=choices)
+
         self.current_font = self.initial_font = None
         self.change_font_button.clicked.connect(self.change_font)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
index af09d6d50d..c1153d49b3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/preferences/look_feel.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
     <width>820</width>
-    <height>519</height>
+    <height>546</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -261,10 +261,40 @@
        <item>
         <widget class="QCheckBox" name="opt_cover_grid_show_title">
          <property name="text">
-          <string>Show the book &amp;title below the cover</string>
+          <string>Show a field (such as title) &amp;under the covers</string>
          </property>
         </widget>
        </item>
+       <item>
+        <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_2">
+         <item>
+          <widget class="QLabel" name="label_14">
+           <property name="text">
+            <string>&amp;Field to show under the covers:</string>
+           </property>
+           <property name="buddy">
+            <cstring>opt_field_under_covers_in_grid</cstring>
+           </property>
+          </widget>
+         </item>
+         <item>
+          <widget class="QComboBox" name="opt_field_under_covers_in_grid"/>
+         </item>
+         <item>
+          <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_2">
+           <property name="orientation">
+            <enum>Qt::Horizontal</enum>
+           </property>
+           <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+            <size>
+             <width>40</width>
+             <height>20</height>
+            </size>
+           </property>
+          </spacer>
+         </item>
+        </layout>
+       </item>
        <item>
         <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_3">
          <item>
@@ -926,5 +956,22 @@ a few top-level elements.</string>
  <resources>
   <include location="../../../../resources/images.qrc"/>
  </resources>
- <connections/>
+ <connections>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>opt_cover_grid_show_title</sender>
+   <signal>toggled(bool)</signal>
+   <receiver>opt_field_under_covers_in_grid</receiver>
+   <slot>setEnabled(bool)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>75</x>
+     <y>102</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>289</x>
+     <y>118</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+ </connections>
 </ui>