diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
index d8a65d2d2e..e8f0bb4cc7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/viewer/web_view.py
@@ -256,6 +256,8 @@ class WebPage(QWebEnginePage):
     def acceptNavigationRequest(self, url, req_type, is_main_frame):
         if req_type == self.NavigationTypeReload:
             return True
+        if req_type == self.NavigationTypeBackForward:
+            return True
         if url.scheme() in (FAKE_PROTOCOL, 'data'):
             return True
         open_url(url)
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj
index 3fb207081f..45603b10da 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/iframe.pyj
@@ -353,6 +353,8 @@ class IframeBoss:
             if sc_name:
                 if self.handle_navigation_shortcut(sc_name, evt):
                     evt.preventDefault()
+                else:
+                    self.send_message('handle_shortcut', name=sc_name)
 
     def oncontextmenu(self, evt):
         if self.content_ready:
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/shortcuts.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/shortcuts.pyj
index 69df6c66b5..740f6fd5ea 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/shortcuts.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/shortcuts.pyj
@@ -138,6 +138,20 @@ SHORTCUTS = {
         _('Scroll forwards by screen-fulls'),
     ),
 
+    'back': desc(
+        v"['Alt+ArrowLeft', 'Shift+ArrowLeft']",
+        'scroll',
+        _('Back'),
+    ),
+
+    'forward': desc(
+        v"['Alt+ArrowRight', 'Shift+ArrowRight']",
+        'scroll',
+        _('Forward'),
+    ),
+
+
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
index a89f991052..64f01735c8 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ class View:
             'print': self.on_print,
             'human_scroll': self.on_human_scroll,
             'selectionchange': self.on_selection_change,
+            'handle_shortcut': self.on_handle_shortcut,
         }
         entry_point = None if runtime.is_standalone_viewer else 'read_book.iframe'
         self.iframe_wrapper = IframeWrapper(handlers, document.getElementById(iframe_id), entry_point, _('Bootstrapping book reader...'), runtime.FAKE_PROTOCOL, runtime.FAKE_HOST)
@@ -215,6 +216,12 @@ class View:
                 amt_scrolled = data.scrolled_by_frac * length
                 self.timers.on_human_scroll(amt_scrolled)
 
+    def on_handle_shortcut(self, data):
+        if data.name is 'back':
+            window.history.back()
+        elif data.name is 'forward':
+            window.history.forward()
+
     def on_selection_change(self, data):
         self.currently_showing.selected_text = data.text
         if ui_operations.selection_changed: