char *thread_id;
     char *in_reply_to;
     char *filename;
+    char *author;
     notmuch_message_file_t *message_file;
     notmuch_message_list_t *replies;
     unsigned long flags;
     message->in_reply_to = NULL;
     message->filename = NULL;
     message->message_file = NULL;
+    message->author = NULL;
 
     message->replies = _notmuch_message_list_create (message);
     if (unlikely (message->replies == NULL)) {
     return _notmuch_convert_tags(message, i, end);
 }
 
+const char *
+notmuch_message_get_author (notmuch_message_t *message)
+{
+    return message->author;
+}
+
+void
+notmuch_message_set_author (notmuch_message_t *message,
+                           const char *author)
+{
+    if (message->author)
+       talloc_free(message->author);
+    message->author = talloc_strdup(message, author);
+    return;
+}
+
 void
 _notmuch_message_set_date (notmuch_message_t *message,
                           const char *date)
 
 void
 _notmuch_message_clear_data (notmuch_message_t *message);
 
+/* Set the author member of 'message' - this is the representation used
+ * when displaying the message */
+void
+notmuch_message_set_author (notmuch_message_t *message, const char *author);
+
+/* Get the author member of 'message' */
+const char *
+notmuch_message_get_author (notmuch_message_t *message);
+
+
 /* index.cc */
 
 notmuch_status_t