diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/polish/cover.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/polish/cover.py
index 4a5253343c..1db4d4d685 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/polish/cover.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/polish/cover.py
@@ -258,7 +258,10 @@ def create_epub_cover(container, cover_path, existing_image, options=None):
     from calibre.ebooks.conversion.config import load_defaults
     from calibre.ebooks.oeb.transforms.cover import CoverManager
 
-    ext = cover_path.rpartition('.')[-1].lower()
+    try:
+        ext = cover_path.rpartition('.')[-1].lower()
+    except Exception:
+        ext = 'jpeg'
     cname, tname = 'cover.' + ext, 'titlepage.xhtml'
     recommended_folders = get_recommended_folders(container, (cname, tname))
 
@@ -273,8 +276,12 @@ def create_epub_cover(container, cover_path, existing_image, options=None):
         raster_cover_item = container.generate_item(cname, id_prefix='cover')
         raster_cover = container.href_to_name(raster_cover_item.get('href'), container.opf_name)
 
-        with lopen(cover_path, 'rb') as src, container.open(raster_cover, 'wb') as dest:
-            shutil.copyfileobj(src, dest)
+        with container.open(raster_cover, 'wb') as dest:
+            if callable(cover_path):
+                cover_path('write_image', dest)
+            else:
+                with lopen(cover_path, 'rb') as src:
+                    shutil.copyfileobj(src, dest)
     if options is None:
         opts = load_defaults('epub_output')
         keep_aspect = opts.get('preserve_cover_aspect_ratio', False)
@@ -286,19 +293,22 @@ def create_epub_cover(container, cover_path, existing_image, options=None):
         style = 'style="height: 100%%"'
         templ = CoverManager.NONSVG_TEMPLATE.replace('__style__', style)
     else:
-        width, height = 600, 800
-        try:
-            if existing_image:
-                width, height = identify_data(container.raw_data(existing_image, decode=False))[:2]
-            else:
-                width, height = identify(cover_path)[:2]
-        except:
-            container.log.exception("Failed to get width and height of cover")
-        ar = 'xMidYMid meet' if keep_aspect else 'none'
-        templ = CoverManager.SVG_TEMPLATE.replace('__ar__', ar)
-        templ = templ.replace('__viewbox__', '0 0 %d %d'%(width, height))
-        templ = templ.replace('__width__', str(width))
-        templ = templ.replace('__height__', str(height))
+        if callable(cover_path):
+            templ = CoverManager.SVG_TEMPLATE
+        else:
+            width, height = 600, 800
+            try:
+                if existing_image:
+                    width, height = identify_data(container.raw_data(existing_image, decode=False))[:2]
+                else:
+                    width, height = identify(cover_path)[:2]
+            except:
+                container.log.exception("Failed to get width and height of cover")
+            ar = 'xMidYMid meet' if keep_aspect else 'none'
+            templ = CoverManager.SVG_TEMPLATE.replace('__ar__', ar)
+            templ = templ.replace('__viewbox__', '0 0 %d %d'%(width, height))
+            templ = templ.replace('__width__', str(width))
+            templ = templ.replace('__height__', str(height))
     folder = recommended_folders[tname]
     if folder:
         tname = folder + '/' + tname
@@ -412,5 +422,6 @@ def set_epub_cover(container, cover_path, report, options=None):
         if s is not None and s != d}
     if link_sub:
         replace_links(container, link_sub, frag_map=lambda x, y:None)
+    return raster_cover, titlepage
 
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/render_book.py b/src/calibre/srv/render_book.py
index 92dfdc8135..1feb993a83 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/render_book.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/render_book.py
@@ -12,15 +12,18 @@ from urlparse import urlparse
 from cssutils import replaceUrls
 from lxml.etree import Comment, tostring
 
-from calibre.ebooks.oeb.base import OEB_DOCS, escape_cdata, OEB_STYLES, rewrite_links, XPath, urlunquote, XLINK
+from calibre.ebooks.oeb.base import (
+    OEB_DOCS, escape_cdata, OEB_STYLES, rewrite_links, XPath, urlunquote, XLINK, XHTML)
 from calibre.ebooks.oeb.iterator.book import extract_book
 from calibre.ebooks.oeb.polish.container import Container as ContainerBase
+from calibre.ebooks.oeb.polish.cover import set_epub_cover, find_cover_image
 from calibre.ebooks.oeb.polish.toc import get_toc
 from calibre.ebooks.oeb.polish.utils import guess_type
 from calibre.utils.short_uuid import uuid4
 from calibre.utils.logging import default_log
 
 RENDER_VERSION = 1  # Also change this in read_book.ui.pyj
+BLANK_JPEG = b'\xff\xd8\xff\xdb\x00C\x00\x03\x02\x02\x02\x02\x02\x03\x02\x02\x02\x03\x03\x03\x03\x04\x06\x04\x04\x04\x04\x04\x08\x06\x06\x05\x06\t\x08\n\n\t\x08\t\t\n\x0c\x0f\x0c\n\x0b\x0e\x0b\t\t\r\x11\r\x0e\x0f\x10\x10\x11\x10\n\x0c\x12\x13\x12\x10\x13\x0f\x10\x10\x10\xff\xc9\x00\x0b\x08\x00\x01\x00\x01\x01\x01\x11\x00\xff\xcc\x00\x06\x00\x10\x10\x05\xff\xda\x00\x08\x01\x01\x00\x00?\x00\xd2\xcf \xff\xd9'  # noqa
 
 def encode_component(x):
     return x.replace(',', ',c').replace('|', ',p')
@@ -53,6 +56,7 @@ class Container(ContainerBase):
             name == self.opf_name or mt == guess_type('a.ncx') or name.startswith('META-INF/') or
             name == 'mimetype'
         }
+        raster_cover_name, titlepage_name = self.create_cover_page(input_fmt.lower())
 
         self.book_render_data = data = {
             'version': RENDER_VERSION,
@@ -61,10 +65,13 @@ class Container(ContainerBase):
             'link_uid': uuid4(),
             'book_hash': book_hash,
             'is_comic': input_fmt.lower() in {'cbc', 'cbz', 'cbr', 'cb7'},
+            'raster_cover_name': raster_cover_name,
+            'title_page_name': titlepage_name,
         }
         # Mark the spine as dirty since we have to ensure it is normalized
         for name in data['spine']:
             self.parsed(name), self.dirty(name)
+        self.inject_script(data['spine'])
         self.virtualized_names = set()
         self.virtualize_resources()
         def manifest_data(name):
@@ -76,6 +83,37 @@ class Container(ContainerBase):
         with lopen(os.path.join(self.root, 'calibre-book-manifest.json'), 'wb') as f:
             f.write(json.dumps(self.book_render_data, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf-8'))
 
+    def create_cover_page(self, input_fmt):
+        if input_fmt == 'epub':
+            def cover_path(action, data):
+                if action == 'write_image':
+                    data.write(BLANK_JPEG)
+            return set_epub_cover(self, cover_path, (lambda *a: None))
+        raster_cover_name = find_cover_image(self, strict=True)
+        if raster_cover_name is None:
+            item = self.generate_item(name='cover.jpeg', id_prefix='cover')
+            raster_cover_name = self.href_to_name(item.get('href'), self.opf_name)
+        with self.open(raster_cover_name, 'wb') as dest:
+            dest.write(BLANK_JPEG)
+        item = self.generate_item(name='titlepage.html', id_prefix='titlepage')
+        titlepage_name = self.href_to_name(item.get('href'), self.opf_name)
+        self.dirty(self.opf_name)
+        return raster_cover_name, titlepage_name
+
+    def inject_script(self, spine):
+        src = 'injected-script-' + self.book_render_data['link_uid']
+        for name in spine:
+            root = self.parsed(name)
+            head = tuple(root.iterchildren(XHTML('head')))
+            head = head[0] if head else root.makeelement(XHTML('head'))
+            root.insert(0, head)
+            script = root.makeelement(XHTML('script'))
+            script.set('type', 'text/javascript')
+            script.set('src', src)
+            script.set('data-secret', 'secret-key-' + self.book_render_data['link_uid'])
+            head.insert(0, script)
+            self.dirty(name)
+
     def virtualize_resources(self):
 
         changed = set()
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
index 1d86a5b419..f82e9419da 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/db.pyj
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ class DB:
                 'last_read': Date(),
                 'metadata': metadata,
                 'manifest': None,
+                'cover_width': None,
+                'cover_height': None
             })
         )
 
@@ -94,12 +96,42 @@ class DB:
         v'delete manifest["metadata"]'
         self.do_op(['books'], book, _('Failed to write to the books database'), proceed, op='put')
 
-    def store_file(self, book, name, xhr, proceed):
+    def store_file(self, book, name, xhr, proceed, is_cover):
         store_as_text = xhr.responseType is 'text'
         fname = file_store_name(book, name)
         needs_encoding = not store_as_text and not self.supports_blobs
         book.stored_files[fname] = {'encoded':needs_encoding, 'mimetype':book.manifest.files[name].mimetype, 'store_as_text':store_as_text}
-        data = xhr.response
+        if is_cover:
+            self.store_cover(book, needs_encoding, xhr.response, name, fname, proceed)
+        else:
+            self.store_file_stage2(needs_encoding, xhr.response, name, fname, proceed)
+
+    def store_cover(self, book, needs_encoding, data, name, fname, proceed):
+        blob = data
+        if needs_encoding:
+            blob = Blob([data], {'type':'image/jpeg'})
+        url = window.URL.createObjectURL(blob)
+        img = new Image()
+        proceeded = False
+
+        def done():
+            nonlocal proceeded
+            if not proceeded:
+                proceeded = True
+                window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url)
+                self.store_file_stage2(needs_encoding, data, name, fname, proceed)
+
+        img.onload = def():
+            book.cover_width = this.width
+            book.cover_height = this.height
+            done()
+
+        img.onerror = def():
+            print('WARNING: Failed to read dimensions of cover')
+            done()
+        img.src = url
+
+    def store_file_stage2(self, needs_encoding, data, name, fname, proceed):
         if needs_encoding:
             data = base64encode(Uint8Array(data))
         req = self.idb.transaction(['files'], 'readwrite').objectStore('files').put(data, fname)
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
index 40a18001f7..ee0f901440 100644
--- a/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/ui.pyj
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from book_list.globals import get_boss
 from modals import error_dialog
 from utils import human_readable
 from read_book.db import create_db
+from read_book.view import View
 
 RENDER_VERSION = 1  # Also change this in render_book.py
 
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ class ReadUI:
         container.appendChild(E.div(
             id=self.display_id, style='display:none',
         ))
+        self.view = View(container.lastChild)
 
     def show_stack(self, name):
         ans = None
@@ -145,6 +147,7 @@ class ReadUI:
     def download_book(self, book):
         files = book.manifest.files
         total = 0
+        cover_total_updated = False
         for name in files:
             total += files[name].size
         files_left = set(book.manifest.files)
@@ -161,6 +164,7 @@ class ReadUI:
         query = {'library_id': library_id}
         progress_track = {}
         pbar.setAttribute('max', total + '')
+        raster_cover_name = book.manifest.raster_cover_name
 
         def update_progress():
             x = 0
@@ -190,22 +194,34 @@ class ReadUI:
                 files_left.discard(this)
                 return
             if end_type is 'load':
-                self.db.store_file(book, this, xhr, on_stored.bind(this))
+                self.db.store_file(book, this, xhr, on_stored.bind(this), this is raster_cover_name)
             else:
                 failed_files.append([this, xhr.error_html])
                 files_left.discard(this)
 
-        def on_progress(loaded):
+        def on_progress(loaded, ftotal):
+            nonlocal total, cover_total_updated
+            if this is raster_cover_name and not cover_total_updated:
+                cover_total_updated = True
+                total = total - files[raster_cover_name].size + ftotal
+                pbar.setAttribute('max', total + '')
             progress_track[this] = loaded
             update_progress()
 
-        for fname in files_left:
-            xhr = ajax(base_path + encodeURIComponent(fname), on_complete.bind(fname), on_progress=on_progress.bind(fname), query=query, progress_totals_needed=False)
+        def start_download(fname, path):
+            xhr = ajax(path, on_complete.bind(fname), on_progress=on_progress.bind(fname), query=query, progress_totals_needed=False)
             xhr.responseType = 'text'
             if not book.manifest.files[name].is_virtualized:
                 xhr.responseType = 'blob' if self.db.supports_blobs else 'arraybuffer'
             xhr.send()
             self.downloads_in_progress.append(xhr)
 
+        if raster_cover_name:
+            start_download(raster_cover_name, 'get/cover/' + book_id + '/' + encodeURIComponent(library_id))
+
+        for fname in files_left:
+            if fname is not raster_cover_name:
+                start_download(fname, base_path + encodeURIComponent(fname))
+
     def display_book(self, book):
         self.show_stack(self.display_id)
diff --git a/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..96d08bc79b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pyj/read_book/view.pyj
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# vim:fileencoding=utf-8
+# License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
+
+from elementmaker import E
+from gettext import gettext as _
+
+LOADING_DOC = '''
+<p>{}</p>
+'''
+class View:
+
+    def __init__(self, container):
+        self.iframe_id = 'read-book-iframe'
+        container.appendChild(
+            E.iframe(
+                id=self.iframe_id,
+                seamless=True,
+                sandbox='allow-popups allow-scripts',
+            )
+        )
+        self.show_loading()
+
+    @property
+    def iframe(self):
+        return document.getElementById(self.iframe_id)
+
+    def show_loading(self):
+        iframe = self.iframe
+        iframe.setAttribute('srcdoc', str.format(LOADING_DOC, _(
+            'Loading, please wait...')))