diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/code.py b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
index 16fc659999..f7d89b5c9d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/code.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
@@ -216,6 +216,19 @@ def get_books(ctx, rd):
                 mdata[book_id] = data
     return ans
 
+@endpoint('/interface-data/book-metadata/{book_id}', postprocess=json, types={'book_id': int})
+def book_metadata(ctx, rd, book_id):
+    '''
+    Get metadata for the specified book
+
+    Optional: ?library_id=<default library>
+    '''
+    library_id, db = get_basic_query_data(ctx, rd.query)[:2]
+    data = book_as_json(db, book_id)
+    if data is None:
+        raise HTTPNotFound('No book with id: %d in library' % book_id)
+    return data
+
 @endpoint('/interface-data/tag-browser')
 def tag_browser(ctx, rd):
     '''
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/routes.py b/src/calibre/srv/routes.py
index 4c2624f1b9..3229b6303c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/routes.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/routes.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class Route(object):
         if argspec.args[2:len(self.names)+2] != self.names:
             raise route_error('Function\'s argument names do not match the variable names in the route')
         if not frozenset(self.type_checkers).issubset(frozenset(self.names)):
-            raise route_error('There exist type checkers that do not correspond to route variables')
+            raise route_error('There exist type checkers that do not correspond to route variables: %r' % (set(self.type_checkers) - set(self.names)))
         self.min_size = found_optional_part if found_optional_part is not False else len(matchers)
         self.max_size = sys.maxsize if self.soak_up_extra else len(matchers)
 
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/book_details.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/book_details.pyj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d91a26fff9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/book_details.pyj
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+# License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+from ajax import ajax
+from book_list.globals import get_current_query
+from dom import clear
+from elementmaker import E
+from gettext import gettext as _
+from book_list.globals import get_boss
+from modals import error_dialog
+from widgets import create_spinner
+
+bd_counter = 0
+
+class BookDetailsPanel:
+
+    def __init__(self, interface_data, book_list_container):
+        nonlocal bd_counter
+        bd_counter += 1
+        self.container_id = 'book-details-panel-' + bd_counter
+        style = ''
+        div = E.div(
+            id=self.container_id, style='display:none',
+            E.style(style, type='text/css')
+        )
+        book_list_container.appendChild(div)
+        self.interface_data = interface_data
+
+    @property
+    def container(self):
+        return document.getElementById(self.container_id)
+
+    @property
+    def is_visible(self):
+        self.container.style.display == 'block'
+
+    @is_visible.setter
+    def is_visible(self, val):
+        self.container.style.display = 'block' if val else 'none'
+
+    def init(self, data):
+        c = self.container
+        clear(c)
+        book_id = get_current_query()['book-id']
+        if book_id is undefined or book_id is None:
+            self.no_book()
+        elif book_id in self.interface_data.metadata:
+            self.render_book(book_id)
+        else:
+            self.fetch_metadata(book_id)
+
+    def no_book(self, book_id):
+        self.container.appendChild(E.div(
+            style='margin: 1ex 1em',
+            _('No book found')
+        ))
+
+    def fetch_metadata(self, book_id):
+        if self.is_fetching:
+            self.is_fetching.abort()
+        def fetched(end_type, xhr, ev):
+            self.metadata_fetched(book_id, end_type, xhr, ev)
+        self.is_fetching = ajax('interface-data/book-metadata/' + book_id, fetched,
+                                     query={'library_id':self.interface_data.library_id})
+        self.container.appendChild(E.div(
+            style='margin: 1ex 1em',
+            create_spinner(), '\xa0' + _('Fetching metadata for the book, please wait') + '…',
+        ))
+
+    def metadata_fetched(self, book_id, end_type, xhr, event):
+        if self.is_fetching is None or self.is_fetching is not xhr:
+            return  # Fetching was aborted
+        self.is_fetching = None
+        c = self.container
+        if end_type == 'load':
+            try:
+                data = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText)
+            except Exception as err:
+                error_dialog(_('Could not fetch metadata for book'), _('Server returned an invalid response'), err.stack or err.toString())
+                return
+            clear(c)
+            self.interface_data.metadata[book_id] = data
+            self.render_book(book_id)
+        elif end_type != 'abort':
+            clear(c)
+            c.appendChild(E.div(
+                style='margin: 1ex 1em',
+                _('Could not fetch metadata for book'),
+                E.div(style='margin: 1ex 1em')
+            ))
+            c.lastChild.lastChild.innerHTML = xhr.error_html
+
+    def render_book(self, book_id):
+        metadata = self.interface_data.metadata[book_id]
+        get_boss().ui.set_title(metadata.title)
+        cover_url = str.format('get/cover/{}/{}', book_id, self.interface_data['library_id'])
+        alt = str.format(_('{} by {}'), metadata['title'], metadata['authors'].join(' & '))
+        img = E.img(
+            src=cover_url, alt=alt, title=alt, data_title=metadata['title'], data_authors=metadata['authors'].join(' & '),
+            style='margin-left: 1em; max-width: 45vw; max-height: 95vh; display: block; width:auto; height:auto'
+        )
+        img.onerror = self.on_img_err.bind(self)
+        c = self.container
+        c.appendChild(E.div(
+            E.div(),
+            img
+        ))
+
+    def on_img_err(self, err):
+        img = err.target
+        img.style.display = 'none'
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/boss.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/boss.pyj
index 8ab85c5099..fc06a7ec3d 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/boss.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/boss.pyj
@@ -82,8 +82,11 @@ class Boss:
         self.interface_data.search_result = data.search_result
         self.ui.refresh_books_view()
 
-    def push_state(self, replace=False):
+    def push_state(self, replace=False, extra_query_data=None):
         query = {}
+        if extra_query_data:
+            for k in extra_query_data:
+                query[k] = extra_query_data[k]
         if self.current_mode == 'book_list':
             if self.ui.current_panel != self.ui.ROOT_PANEL:
                 query.panel = self.ui.current_panel
@@ -95,8 +98,8 @@ class Boss:
         sq = idata.search_result.query
         if sq:
             query.search = sq
-        query = encode_query(query) or '?'
         set_current_query(query)
+        query = encode_query(query) or '?'
         if replace:
             window.history.replaceState(None, '', query)
         else:
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/top_bar.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/top_bar.pyj
index 5760a317f3..f139e2a85c 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/top_bar.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/top_bar.pyj
@@ -114,3 +114,7 @@ class TopBar:
             clear(right)
         for button in buttons:
             self.add_button(**button)
+
+    def set_title(self, text):
+        for bar in self.bar, self.dummy_bar:
+            bar.firstChild.firstChild.nextSibling.textContent = text
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj
index c05f0868e8..603e79c45b 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/ui.pyj
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from book_list.top_bar import TopBar
 from book_list.views import BooksView
 from book_list.item_list import ItemsView, create_item
 from book_list.prefs import PrefsPanel
+from book_list.book_details import BookDetailsPanel
 from gettext import gettext as _
 from utils import debounce
 
@@ -76,7 +77,8 @@ class UI:
         self.items_view = ItemsView(interface_data, book_list_container)
         self.prefs_panel = PrefsPanel(interface_data, book_list_container)
         self.search_panel = SearchPanel(interface_data, book_list_container)
-        self.panels = [self.books_view, self.items_view, self.search_panel, self.prefs_panel]
+        self.book_details_panel = BookDetailsPanel(interface_data, book_list_container)
+        self.panels = [self.books_view, self.items_view, self.search_panel, self.prefs_panel, self.book_details_panel]
         self.panel_map = {self.ROOT_PANEL: UIState(create_book_view_top_bar_state(self.books_view), main_panel=self.books_view)}
         self.current_panel = self.ROOT_PANEL
         window.addEventListener('resize', debounce(self.on_resize.bind(self), 250))
@@ -98,11 +100,16 @@ class UI:
         bss.add_button(icon_name='cogs', tooltip=_('Configure Tag Browser'), action=show_panel_action('booklist-config-tb'))
         self.panel_map['booklist-search'] = UIState(bss, main_panel=self.search_panel)
 
+        self.panel_map['book-details'] = UIState(ClosePanelBar(_('Book Details')), main_panel=self.book_details_panel)
+
     def create_prefences_panel(self, title, close_callback=None, panel_data=None):
         ans = UIState(ClosePanelBar(title), close_callback=close_callback, main_panel=self.prefs_panel, panel_data=panel_data)
         ans.add_button(icon_name='refresh', tooltip=_('Restore default settings'), action=self.prefs_panel.reset_to_defaults.bind(self.prefs_panel))
         return ans
 
+    def set_title(self, text):
+        self.top_bar.set_title(text)
+
     def on_resize(self):
         pass
 
@@ -126,16 +133,20 @@ class UI:
             self.show_panel(self.ROOT_PANEL)
 
     def replace_panel(self, panel_name, force=False):
-        get_boss().push_state(replace=True)
-        if force or panel_name != self.current_panel:
+        action_needed = force or panel_name != self.current_panel
+        if action_needed:
             self.current_panel = panel_name or self.ROOT_PANEL
+        get_boss().push_state(replace=True)
+        if action_needed:
             self.apply_state()
 
-    def show_panel(self, panel_name, push_state=True, force=False):
-        if push_state:
-            get_boss().push_state()
-        if force or panel_name != self.current_panel:
+    def show_panel(self, panel_name, push_state=True, force=False, extra_query_data=None):
+        action_needed = force or panel_name != self.current_panel
+        if action_needed:
             self.current_panel = panel_name or self.ROOT_PANEL
+        if push_state:
+            get_boss().push_state(extra_query_data=extra_query_data)
+        if action_needed:
             self.apply_state()
 
     def refresh_books_view(self):
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/views.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/views.pyj
index 2d79dd7b6a..95de5997c3 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/views.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/views.pyj
@@ -157,33 +157,37 @@ class BooksView:
         set_css(div, display='flex', flex_wrap='wrap', justify_content='flex-start', align_items='flex-end', align_content='flex-start', user_select='none')
         div.setAttribute('class', 'cover_grid')
 
+    def on_cover_grid_img_err(self, err):
+        img = err.target
+        div = img.parentNode
+        if not div:
+            return
+        clear(div)
+        div.appendChild(E.div(
+            style='position:relative; top:-50%; transform: translateY(50%)',
+            E.h2(img.getAttribute('data-title'), style='text-align:center; font-size:larger; font-weight: bold'),
+            E.div(_('by'), style='text-align: center'),
+            E.h2(img.getAttribute('data-authors'), style='text-align:center; font-size:larger; font-weight: bold')
+        ))
+        set_css(div, border='dashed 1px currentColor', border_radius='10px')
+
     def cover_grid_item(self, book_id):
         cover_url = str.format('get/thumb/{}/{}?sz={}x{}', book_id, self.interface_data['library_id'], THUMBNAIL_MAX_WIDTH, THUMBNAIL_MAX_HEIGHT)
         metadata = self.interface_data['metadata'][book_id]
         alt = str.format(_('{} by {}'), metadata['title'], metadata['authors'].join(' & '))
         img = E.img(src=cover_url, alt=alt, title=alt, data_title=metadata['title'], data_authors=metadata['authors'].join(' & '),
                 style='max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; display: block; width:auto; height:auto')
-        img.onerror = def(err):
-            img = err.target
-            div = img.parentNode
-            if not div:
-                return
-            clear(div)
-            div.appendChild(E.div(
-                style='position:relative; top:-50%; transform: translateY(50%)',
-                E.h2(img.getAttribute('data-title'), style='text-align:center; font-size:larger; font-weight: bold'),
-                E.div(_('by'), style='text-align: center'),
-                E.h2(img.getAttribute('data-authors'), style='text-align:center; font-size:larger; font-weight: bold')
-            ))
-            set_css(div, border='dashed 1px currentColor', border_radius='10px')
+        img.onerror = self.on_cover_grid_img_err.bind(self)
 
-        return E.div(
+        ans = E.div(
             style=str.format(('margin: 10px; display: flex; align-content: flex-end; align-items: flex-end; justify-content: space-around;'
                               'width: 21vw; height: 28vw; max-width: {}px; max-height: {}px; min-width: {}px; min-height: {}px; cursor:pointer'),
                              THUMBNAIL_MAX_WIDTH, THUMBNAIL_MAX_HEIGHT, THUMBNAIL_MAX_WIDTH // 2, THUMBNAIL_MAX_HEIGHT // 2),
             data_book_id=str(book_id),
             img
         )
+        ans.addEventListener('click', def(ev): self.show_book_details(book_id);)
+        return ans
 
     # }}}
 
@@ -261,3 +265,6 @@ class BooksView:
     def refresh(self):
         self.clear()
         self.render_ids()
+
+    def show_book_details(self, book_id):
+        get_boss().ui.show_panel('book-details', extra_query_data={'book-id':'' + book_id})