diff --git a/CHANGELOG.adoc b/CHANGELOG.adoc
index 9067540e9..4e2055411 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.adoc
+++ b/CHANGELOG.adoc
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ For a detailed view of what has changed, refer to the {uri-repo}/commits/master[
 * allow theme to specify background image for running content (#356)
 * allow theme to specify border for admonition block (#444)
 * allow theme to specify background color for admonition block (#444)
+* allow theme to specify background color and full border for quote and verse blocks (#1309)
 * allow text alignment roles to be used to control alignment of discrete heading
 * don't apply border to block if border width is not set (or nil)
 * use font color from pygments style for unhighlighted text (#1441)
diff --git a/data/themes/base-theme.yml b/data/themes/base-theme.yml
index 341d1bfe0..2b7e9dd8b 100644
--- a/data/themes/base-theme.yml
+++ b/data/themes/base-theme.yml
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ admonition_padding: [0, 12, 0, 12]
 admonition_label_font_style: bold
 admonition_label_text_transform: uppercase
 blockquote_border_color: 'EEEEEE'
-blockquote_border_width: 4
+blockquote_border_left_width: 4
 blockquote_padding: [6, 12, -6, 14]
 verse_border_color: 'EEEEEE'
-verse_border_width: 4
+verse_border_left_width: 4
 verse_padding: [6, 12, -6, 14]
 code_font_family: Courier
 code_font_size: 10.8
diff --git a/data/themes/default-theme.yml b/data/themes/default-theme.yml
index edd8ea5ab..a0a52df10 100644
--- a/data/themes/default-theme.yml
+++ b/data/themes/default-theme.yml
@@ -173,15 +173,17 @@ admonition:
 blockquote:
   font_size: $base_font_size_large
   border_color: $base_border_color
-  border_width: 5
+  border_width: 0
+  border_left_width: 5
   # FIXME disable negative padding bottom once margin collapsing is implemented
-  padding: [0, $horizontal_rhythm, $block_margin_bottom * -0.75, $horizontal_rhythm + $blockquote_border_width / 2]
+  padding: [0, $horizontal_rhythm, $block_margin_bottom * -0.75, $horizontal_rhythm + $blockquote_border_left_width / 2]
   cite_font_size: $base_font_size_small
   cite_font_color: 999999
 verse:
   font_size: $blockquote_font_size
   border_color: $blockquote_border_color
   border_width: $blockquote_border_width
+  border_left_width: $blockquote_border_left_width
   padding: $blockquote_padding
   cite_font_size: $blockquote_cite_font_size
   cite_font_color: $blockquote_cite_font_color
diff --git a/docs/theming-guide.adoc b/docs/theming-guide.adoc
index 85610608a..6b1975675 100644
--- a/docs/theming-guide.adoc
+++ b/docs/theming-guide.adoc
@@ -2621,11 +2621,23 @@ The keys in this category control the arrangement and style of quote blocks.
 
 3+|[#key-prefix-blockquote]*Key Prefix:* <<key-prefix-blockquote,blockquote>>
 
+|background-color
+|<<colors,Color>> +
+(default: _not set_)
+|blockquote:
+  background-color: #dddddd
+
 |border-width^[1]^
 |<<values,Number>> +
+(default: 0)
+|blockquote:
+  border-width: 0.5
+
+|border-left-width^[1]^
+|<<values,Number>> +
 (default: 4)
 |blockquote:
-  border-width: 5
+  border-left-width: 5
 
 |border-color^[1]^
 |<<colors,Color>> +
@@ -2720,7 +2732,8 @@ The keys in this category control the arrangement and style of quote blocks.
     text-transform: uppercase
 |===
 
-. Only applies to the left side.
+. If border-left-width is non-zero, the border is only applied to the left side.
+Otherwise, if border-width is non-zero, the border is drawn around the whole block.
 
 [#keys-verse]
 === Verse
@@ -2733,11 +2746,23 @@ The keys in this category control the arrangement and style of verse blocks.
 
 3+|[#key-prefix-verse]*Key Prefix:* <<key-prefix-verse,verse>>
 
+|background-color
+|<<colors,Color>> +
+(default: _not set_)
+|verse:
+  background-color: #dddddd
+
 |border-width^[1]^
 |<<values,Number>> +
+(default: 0)
+|verse:
+  border-width: 0.5
+
+|border-left-width^[1]^
+|<<values,Number>> +
 (default: 4)
 |verse:
-  border-width: 5
+  border-left-width: 5
 
 |border-color^[1]^
 |<<colors,Color>> +
@@ -2832,7 +2857,8 @@ The keys in this category control the arrangement and style of verse blocks.
     text-transform: uppercase
 |===
 
-. Only applies to the left side.
+. If border-left-width is non-zero, the border is only applied to the left side.
+Otherwise, if border-width is non-zero, the border is drawn around the whole block.
 
 [#keys-sidebar]
 === Sidebar
diff --git a/lib/asciidoctor/pdf/converter.rb b/lib/asciidoctor/pdf/converter.rb
index 9bc84588d..98714b15b 100644
--- a/lib/asciidoctor/pdf/converter.rb
+++ b/lib/asciidoctor/pdf/converter.rb
@@ -983,10 +983,60 @@ def convert_quote_or_verse node
         add_dest_for_block node if node.id
         theme_margin :block, :top
         category = node.context == :quote ? :blockquote : :verse
-        b_width = @theme[%(#{category}_border_width)] || 0
-        b_color = @theme[%(#{category}_border_color)]
+        unless (b_left_width = @theme[%(#{category}_border_left_width)]) && b_left_width > 0
+          b_left_width = nil
+          if (b_width = @theme[%(#{category}_border_width)])
+            b_width = nil unless b_width > 0
+          end
+        end
+        b_color = @theme[%(#{category}_border_color)] if b_width || b_left_width
+        bg_color = @theme[%(#{category}_background_color)]
         keep_together do |box_height = nil|
           push_scratch node.document if scratch?
+          if box_height && (b_width || bg_color)
+            # FIXME: due to the calculation error logged in #789, we must advance page even when content is split across pages
+            advance_page if box_height > cursor && !at_page_top?
+            float do
+              # TODO: move the multi-page logic to theme_fill_and_stroke_bounds
+              if b_width
+                if b_color == @page_bg_color # let page background cut into sidebar background
+                  b_gap_color, b_shift = @page_bg_color, b_width
+                elsif (b_gap_color = bg_color) && b_gap_color != b_color
+                  b_shift = 0
+                else # let page background cut into border
+                  b_gap_color, b_shift = @page_bg_color, 0
+                end
+              else # let page background cut into sidebar background
+                b_shift, b_gap_color = (b_width = 0.5) * 0.5, @page_bg_color
+              end
+              b_radius = @theme[%(#{category}_border_radius)] || 0
+              initial_page, remaining_height = true, box_height
+              while remaining_height > 0
+                advance_page unless initial_page
+                fragment_height = [(available_height = cursor), remaining_height].min
+                bounding_box [0, available_height], width: bounds.width, height: fragment_height do
+                  theme_fill_and_stroke_bounds category
+                  unless b_width == 0
+                    indent b_radius, b_radius do
+                      move_down b_shift
+                      # dashed line to indicate continuation from previous page; swell line to cover background
+                      stroke_horizontal_rule b_gap_color, line_width: b_width * 1.2, line_style: :dashed
+                      move_up b_shift
+                    end unless initial_page
+                    if remaining_height > fragment_height
+                      move_down fragment_height - b_shift
+                      indent b_radius, b_radius do
+                        # dashed line to indicate continuation to next page; swell line to cover background
+                        stroke_horizontal_rule b_gap_color, line_width: b_width * 1.2, line_style: :dashed
+                      end
+                    end
+                  end
+                end
+                remaining_height -= fragment_height
+                initial_page = false
+              end
+            end
+          end
           start_page_number = page_number
           start_cursor = cursor
           caption_height = node.title? ? (layout_caption node, category: category) : 0
@@ -1007,7 +1057,7 @@ def convert_quote_or_verse node
           end
           # FIXME: we want to draw graphics before content, but box_height is not reliable when spanning pages
           # FIXME: border extends to bottom of content area if block terminates at bottom of page
-          if box_height && b_width > 0
+          if box_height && b_left_width
             page_spread = page_number - start_page_number + 1
             end_cursor = cursor
             go_to_page start_page_number
@@ -1034,7 +1084,7 @@ def convert_quote_or_verse node
               # NOTE: b_height is 0 when block terminates at bottom of page
               next if b_height == 0
               bounding_box [0, y_draw], width: bounds.width, height: b_height do
-                stroke_vertical_rule b_color, line_width: b_width, at: b_width / 2.0
+                stroke_vertical_rule b_color, line_width: b_left_width, at: b_left_width * 0.5
               end
             end
           end
diff --git a/spec/output/verse-border-and-background-color.pdf b/spec/output/verse-border-and-background-color.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31e13ddf2
Binary files /dev/null and b/spec/output/verse-border-and-background-color.pdf differ
diff --git a/spec/quote_spec.rb b/spec/quote_spec.rb
index b95acfa6d..c460fdcfe 100644
--- a/spec/quote_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/quote_spec.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
     (expect title_text[:x]).to eql 48.24
   end
 
-  it 'should not draw left border if border_width is 0' do
-    pdf = to_pdf <<~'EOS', pdf_theme: { blockquote_border_width: 0 }, analyze: :line
+  it 'should not draw left border if border_left_width is 0' do
+    pdf = to_pdf <<~'EOS', pdf_theme: { blockquote_border_left_width: 0 }, analyze: :line
     ____
     Let it be.
     ____
@@ -50,4 +50,37 @@
     (expect quote_borders).to have_size 1
     (expect quote_borders[0][:page_number]).to be 1
   end
+
+  it 'should apply specified background color', visual: true do
+    pdf_theme = {
+      blockquote_background_color: 'dddddd',
+      blockquote_border_color: 'aa0000',
+    }
+    to_file = to_pdf_file <<~'EOS', 'quote-background-color.pdf', pdf_theme: pdf_theme
+    ____
+    Let it be. +
+    Let it be.
+    ____
+    EOS
+
+    (expect to_file).to visually_match 'quote-background-color.pdf'
+  end
+
+  it 'should apply specified border and background color', visual: true do
+    pdf_theme = build_pdf_theme \
+      blockquote_border_left_width: 0,
+      blockquote_border_width: 0.5,
+      blockquote_border_color: 'aa0000',
+      blockquote_background_color: 'dddddd'
+    pdf_theme.blockquote_padding = pdf_theme.sidebar_padding
+    to_file = to_pdf_file <<~'EOS', 'quote-border-and-background-color.pdf', pdf_theme: pdf_theme
+    [,Paul McCartney]
+    ____
+    Let it be. +
+    Let it be.
+    ____
+    EOS
+
+    (expect to_file).to visually_match 'quote-border-and-background-color.pdf'
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/reference/quote-background-color.pdf b/spec/reference/quote-background-color.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..23c0050c1
Binary files /dev/null and b/spec/reference/quote-background-color.pdf differ
diff --git a/spec/reference/quote-border-and-background-color.pdf b/spec/reference/quote-border-and-background-color.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fc269878
Binary files /dev/null and b/spec/reference/quote-border-and-background-color.pdf differ
diff --git a/spec/reference/verse-background-color.pdf b/spec/reference/verse-background-color.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e0f80a156
Binary files /dev/null and b/spec/reference/verse-background-color.pdf differ
diff --git a/spec/reference/verse-border-and-background-color.pdf b/spec/reference/verse-border-and-background-color.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31e13ddf2
Binary files /dev/null and b/spec/reference/verse-border-and-background-color.pdf differ
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 933c3a377..25768199a 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -200,9 +200,7 @@ def initialize
   end
 
   def append_line x, y
-    unless @color.nil? && @width.nil?
-      @lines << { page_number: @page_number, from: @from, to: { x: x, y: y }, color: @color, width: @width }
-    end
+    @lines << { page_number: @page_number, from: @from, to: { x: x, y: y }, color: @color, width: @width } unless @color.nil? && @width.nil?
   end
 
   def begin_new_subpath x, y
diff --git a/spec/verse_spec.rb b/spec/verse_spec.rb
index 4f7e04d82..4eae23052 100644
--- a/spec/verse_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/verse_spec.rb
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@
     (expect lines[2]).to eql %(\u00a0       go)
   end
 
-  it 'should not draw left border if border_width is 0' do
-    pdf = to_pdf <<~'EOS', pdf_theme: { blockquote_border_width: 0 }, analyze: :line
+  it 'should not draw left border if border_left_width is 0' do
+    pdf = to_pdf <<~'EOS', pdf_theme: { verse_border_left_width: 0 }, analyze: :line
+    [verse]
     ____
     here
     we
@@ -69,4 +70,38 @@
     (expect text[0][:font_size]).to eql 10.5
     (expect text[0][:font_color]).to eql '555555'
   end
+
+  it 'should apply specified background color', visual: true do
+    pdf_theme = {
+      verse_background_color: 'dddddd',
+      verse_border_color: 'aa0000',
+    }
+    to_file = to_pdf_file <<~'EOS', 'verse-background-color.pdf', pdf_theme: pdf_theme
+    [verse]
+    ____
+    Let it be.
+    Let it be.
+    ____
+    EOS
+
+    (expect to_file).to visually_match 'verse-background-color.pdf'
+  end
+
+  it 'should apply specified border and background color', visual: true do
+    pdf_theme = build_pdf_theme \
+      verse_border_left_width: 0,
+      verse_border_width: 0.5,
+      verse_border_color: 'aa0000',
+      verse_background_color: 'dddddd'
+    pdf_theme.blockquote_padding = pdf_theme.sidebar_padding
+    to_file = to_pdf_file <<~'EOS', 'verse-border-and-background-color.pdf', pdf_theme: pdf_theme
+    [verse,Paul McCartney]
+    ____
+    Let it be.
+    Let it be.
+    ____
+    EOS
+
+    (expect to_file).to visually_match 'verse-border-and-background-color.pdf'
+  end
 end