diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 00d6fc0..e2a615b 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -58,47 +58,68 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         return menu_bar
 
     def file_menu(self) -> QMenu:
-        file_menu = QMenu(self.tr("File", "name of the file menu"), self)
+        file_menu = QMenu(self.tr("&File", "name of the file menu"), self)
 
-        open_file = QAction(self.tr("Open..."), self)
-        open_file.triggered.connect(self._open_file)
+        open_file = QAction(self.tr("&Open..."), self)
+        open_file.triggered.connect(self._open_file_dialog)
 
-        close_action = QAction(self.tr("Close", "menu item to close the application"), self)
+        close_action = QAction(self.tr("E&xit", "menu item to close the application"), self)
         close_action.triggered.connect(self.destruct)
 
+        self._menu_recent_files = QMenu(self.tr("Open &Recent"), self)
+        self._update_recent_files_menu()
+
         file_menu.addAction(open_file)
+        file_menu.addMenu(self._menu_recent_files)
         file_menu.addAction(close_action)
         return file_menu
 
     def help_menu(self) -> QMenu:
-        help_menu = QMenu(self.tr("Help", "name of the help menu"), self)
+        help_menu = QMenu(self.tr("&Help", "name of the help menu"), self)
 
-        about_action = QAction(self.tr("About"), self)
+        about_action = QAction(self.tr("&About"), self)
         about_action.triggered.connect(self._open_about_dialog)
         help_menu.addAction(about_action)
 
         return help_menu
 
+    def _update_recent_files_menu(self):
+        self._menu_recent_files.clear()
+        files = self._get_recent_files()
+        for file in files:
+            action = QAction(os.path.basename(file), self)
+            action.triggered.connect(lambda x, f=file: self._open_file(f))
+            self._menu_recent_files.addAction(action)
+
     def _open_about_dialog(self):
         dialog = AboutDialog()
         dialog.exec()
 
-    def _open_file(self) -> None:
+    def _open_file_dialog(self) -> None:
         dialog = QFileDialog(self)
         (selected_file, _filter) = dialog.getOpenFileName(caption=self.tr("Open File"))
         self.tabs.create_tab(selected_file)
         self._remember_recent_file(selected_file)
 
-    def _remember_recent_file(self, file: str):
+    def _open_file(self, file: str) -> None:
+        self.tabs.create_tab(file)
+        self._remember_recent_file(file)
+
+    def _get_recent_files(self) -> [str]:
         recent_files = self.settings.session.get('general', 'recent_files', fallback='')
         files = recent_files.split(os.pathsep)
-        if file in files:
-            files.remove(file)
         if "" in files:
             files.remove("")
+        return files
+
+    def _remember_recent_file(self, file: str):
+        files = self._get_recent_files()
+        if file in files:
+            files.remove(file)
         files.insert(0, file)
-        recent_files = os.pathsep.join(files[:5])
+        recent_files = os.pathsep.join(files[:10])
         self.settings.set_session('general', 'recent_files', recent_files)
+        self._update_recent_files_menu()
 
     def closeEvent(self, event):
         self.destruct()