diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 Changelog for Extra
 
+1.4.8
+    Add displayException
 1.4.7
     #21, add concatForM
 1.4.6
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 The module `Extra` documents all functions provided by this library. Modules such as `Data.List.Extra` provide extra functions over `Data.List` and also reexport `Data.List`. Users are recommended to replace `Data.List` imports with `Data.List.Extra` if they need the extra functionality.
 
+
 ## Which functions?
 
 When producing a library of extra functions I have been guided by a few principles. I encourage others with small useful utility functions contribute them here, perhaps as a temporary stop before proposing they join the standard libraries.
@@ -17,3 +18,15 @@
 * The functions follow the spirit of the original Prelude/base libraries. I am happy to provide partial functions (e.g. `fromRight`), and functions which are specialisations of more generic functions (`whenJust`).
 * Most of the functions have trivial implementations. If a beginner couldn't write the function, it probably doesn't belong here.
 * I have defined only a few new data types or type aliases. It's a package for defining new utilities on existing types, not new types or concepts.
+
+
+## Base versions
+
+The following GHC versions correspond to the following base library versions:
+
+* base 4.9 == GHC 8.0
+* base 4.8 == GHC 7.10
+* base 4.7 == GHC 7.8
+* base 4.6 == GHC 7.6
+* base 4.5 == GHC 7.4
+* base 4.4 == GHC 7.2
diff --git a/extra.cabal b/extra.cabal
--- a/extra.cabal
+++ b/extra.cabal
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 cabal-version:      >= 1.10
 build-type:         Simple
 name:               extra
-version:            1.4.7
+version:            1.4.8
 license:            BSD3
 license-file:       LICENSE
 category:           Development
diff --git a/src/Control/Exception/Extra.hs b/src/Control/Exception/Extra.hs
--- a/src/Control/Exception/Extra.hs
+++ b/src/Control/Exception/Extra.hs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-{-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE ScopedTypeVariables, CPP #-}
+{-# OPTIONS_GHC -fno-warn-duplicate-exports #-}
 
 -- | Extra functions for "Control.Exception".
 --   These functions provide retrying, showing in the presence of exceptions,
@@ -7,7 +8,7 @@
     module Control.Exception,
     retry, retryBool,
     showException, stringException,
-    errorIO,
+    errorIO, displayException,
     -- * Exception catching/ignoring
     ignore,
     catch_, handle_, try_,
@@ -41,6 +42,14 @@
 --   can themselves contain undefined values.
 showException :: Show e => e -> IO String
 showException = stringException . show
+
+
+#if __GLASGOW_HASKELL__ < 710
+-- | Render this exception value in a human-friendly manner.
+--   Part of the 'Exception' class in GHC 7.10 onwards.
+displayException :: Exception e => e -> String
+displayException = show
+#endif
 
 
 -- | Ignore any exceptions thrown by the action.
diff --git a/src/Extra.hs b/src/Extra.hs
--- a/src/Extra.hs
+++ b/src/Extra.hs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     getNumCapabilities, setNumCapabilities, withNumCapabilities, forkFinally, once, onceFork, Lock, newLock, withLock, withLockTry, Var, newVar, readVar, modifyVar, modifyVar_, withVar, Barrier, newBarrier, signalBarrier, waitBarrier, waitBarrierMaybe,
     -- * Control.Exception.Extra
     -- | Extra functions available in @"Control.Exception.Extra"@.
-    retry, retryBool, showException, stringException, errorIO, ignore, catch_, handle_, try_, catchJust_, handleJust_, tryJust_, catchBool, handleBool, tryBool,
+    retry, retryBool, showException, stringException, errorIO, displayException, ignore, catch_, handle_, try_, catchJust_, handleJust_, tryJust_, catchBool, handleBool, tryBool,
     -- * Control.Monad.Extra
     -- | Extra functions available in @"Control.Monad.Extra"@.
     whenJust, whenJustM, unit, maybeM, eitherM, loopM, whileM, partitionM, concatMapM, concatForM, mconcatMapM, mapMaybeM, findM, firstJustM, whenM, unlessM, ifM, notM, (||^), (&&^), orM, andM, anyM, allM,