diff --git a/manual/gui.rst b/manual/gui.rst
index ddfb9c42bd..9d74c62ac1 100644
--- a/manual/gui.rst
+++ b/manual/gui.rst
@@ -716,6 +716,8 @@ calibre has several keyboard shortcuts to save you time and mouse movement. Thes
       - Edit book
     * - :kbd:`V`
       - View
+    * - :kbd:`Shift+V`
+      - View last read book
     * - :kbd:`Alt+V/Cmd+V in macOS`
       - View specific format
     * - :kbd:`Alt+Shift+J`
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/view.py
index 6012debec5..d6cd999cff 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/view.py
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ class ViewAction(InterfaceAction):
         self.clear_history_action = cm('clear history',
                 _('Clear recently viewed list'), triggered=self.clear_history)
         self.history_actions = [self.clear_sep1]
+        self.action_view_last_read = ac = self.create_action(
+            spec=(_('Continue reading previous book'), None, _('Continue reading the last opened book'), 'shift+v'), attr='action_view_last_read')
+        ac.triggered.connect(self.view_last_read)
+        self.gui.addAction(ac)
 
     def initialization_complete(self):
         self.build_menus(self.gui.current_db)
@@ -82,6 +86,12 @@ class ViewAction(InterfaceAction):
                 ac.view_historical.connect(self.view_historical)
                 self.history_actions.append(ac)
 
+    def view_last_read(self):
+        history = self.gui.current_db.new_api.pref('gui_view_history', [])
+        for book_id, title in history:
+            self.view_historical(book_id)
+            break
+
     def browse_annots(self):
         self.gui.iactions['Browse Annotations'].show_browser()