diff --git a/pyreadline/__init__.py b/pyreadline/__init__.py
index 8e7b9c8..7a50e1c 100644
--- a/pyreadline/__init__.py
+++ b/pyreadline/__init__.py
@@ -9,4 +9,3 @@
 import unicode_helper, logger, clipboard, lineeditor, modes, console
 from rlmain import *
 import rlmain
-import release 
diff --git a/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py b/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py
index 92f41d3..3eae6dd 100644
--- a/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py
+++ b/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py
@@ -33,11 +33,27 @@ class LineHistory(object):
         self.lastcommand = None
         self.query = u""
 
+    def get_current_history_length(self):
+        u'''Return the number of lines currently in the history.
+        (This is different from get_history_length(), which returns 
+        the maximum number of lines that will be written to a history file.)'''
+        value = len(self.history)
+        log(u"get_current_history_length:%d"%value)
+        return value
+
     def get_history_length(self):
+        u'''Return the desired length of the history file. Negative values imply
+        unlimited history file size.'''
         value = self._history_length
         log(u"get_history_length:%d"%value)
         return value
 
+    def get_history_item(self, index):
+        u'''Return the current contents of history item at index.'''
+        item = self.history[index]
+        log(u"get_history_item: index:%d item:%r"%(index, item))
+        return item.get_line_text()
+
     def set_history_length(self, value):
         log(u"set_history_length: old:%d new:%d"%(self._history_length, value))
         self._history_length = value
diff --git a/pyreadline/rlmain.py b/pyreadline/rlmain.py
index 6ab21cf..3e1e387 100644
--- a/pyreadline/rlmain.py
+++ b/pyreadline/rlmain.py
@@ -128,6 +128,12 @@ class BaseReadline(object):
         u'''Append a line to the history buffer, as if it was the last line typed.'''
         self.mode._history.add_history(line)
 
+    def get_current_history_length(self ):
+        u'''Return the number of lines currently in the history.
+        (This is different from get_history_length(), which returns 
+        the maximum number of lines that will be written to a history file.)'''
+        return self.mode._history.get_current_history_length()
+
     def get_history_length(self ):
         u'''Return the desired length of the history file.
 
@@ -142,6 +148,10 @@ class BaseReadline(object):
         '''
         self.mode._history.set_history_length(length)
 
+    def get_history_item(self, index): 
+        u'''Return the current contents of history item at index.'''
+        return self.mode._history.get_history_item(index)
+
     def clear_history(self):
         u'''Clear readline history'''
         self.mode._history.clear_history()
diff --git a/readline.py b/readline.py
index 5c76f79..99db186 100644
--- a/readline.py
+++ b/readline.py
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ __all__ = [ 'parse_and_bind',
             'read_init_file',
             'read_history_file',
             'write_history_file',
+            'get_current_history_length',
             'get_history_length',
+            'get_history_item',
             'set_history_length',
             'set_startup_hook',
             'set_pre_input_hook',
@@ -54,7 +56,9 @@ else:
     read_history_file = rl.read_history_file
 
     get_completer_delims = rl.get_completer_delims
+    get_current_history_length = rl.get_current_history_length
     get_history_length = rl.get_history_length
+    get_history_item = rl.get_history_item
     get_line_buffer = rl.get_line_buffer
     set_completer = rl.set_completer
     get_completer = rl.get_completer