diff --git a/hspec-meta.cabal b/hspec-meta.cabal
--- a/hspec-meta.cabal
+++ b/hspec-meta.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name:             hspec-meta
-version:          1.7.1
+version:          1.7.2
 license:          MIT
 license-file:     LICENSE
 copyright:        (c) 2011-2013 Simon Hengel,
diff --git a/src/Test/Hspec.hs b/src/Test/Hspec.hs
--- a/src/Test/Hspec.hs
+++ b/src/Test/Hspec.hs
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 , pending
 , pendingWith
 , before
+, after
+, around
 , parallel
 
 -- * Running a spec
@@ -45,6 +47,9 @@
 import           Test.Hspec.Expectations
 import qualified Test.Hspec.Core as Core
 
+import           Data.IORef
+import           Control.Applicative
+
 -- $intro
 --
 -- The three functions you'll use the most are 'hspec', 'describe', and 'it'.
@@ -150,7 +155,20 @@
 
 -- | Run a custom action before every spec item.
 before :: IO () -> Spec -> Spec
-before action = mapSpecItem $ \b r e -> SpecItem b r (\params -> (action >> (e params)))
+before action = mapSpecItem $ \b r e -> SpecItem b r (\params -> action *> e params)
+
+-- | Run a custom action after every spec item.
+after :: IO () -> Spec -> Spec
+after action = mapSpecItem $ \b r e -> SpecItem b r (\params -> e params <* action)
+
+-- | Run a custom action before and/or after every spec item.
+around :: (IO () -> IO ()) -> Spec -> Spec
+around action = mapSpecItem $ \b r e -> SpecItem b r (\params -> wrap (e params))
+  where
+    wrap e = do
+      ref <- newIORef (Fail "")
+      action (e >>= writeIORef ref)
+      readIORef ref
 
 mapSpecItem :: (Bool -> String -> (Params -> IO Result) -> SpecTree) -> Spec -> Spec
 mapSpecItem f = fromSpecList . map go . runSpecM