diff --git a/Include/py_curses.h b/Include/py_curses.h
--- a/Include/py_curses.h
+++ b/Include/py_curses.h
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ extern "C" {
 typedef struct {
 	PyObject_HEAD
 	WINDOW *win;
+	char *encoding;
 } PyCursesWindowObject;
 
 #define PyCursesWindow_Check(v)	 (Py_TYPE(v) == &PyCursesWindow_Type)
diff --git a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
--- a/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_cursesmodule.c
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ extern int setupterm(char *,int,int *);
 #include <term.h>
 #endif
 
+#ifdef HAVE_LANGINFO_H
+#include <langinfo.h>
+#endif
+
 #if !defined(HAVE_NCURSES_H) && (defined(sgi) || defined(__sun) || defined(SCO5))
 #define STRICT_SYSV_CURSES       /* Don't use ncurses extensions */
 typedef chtype attr_t;           /* No attr_t type is available */
@@ -143,6 +147,8 @@ static int initialised = FALSE;
 /* Tells whether start_color() has been called to initialise color usage. */
 static int initialisedcolors = FALSE;
 
+static char *screen_encoding = NULL;
+
 /* Utility Macros */
 #define PyCursesSetupTermCalled                                         \
     if (initialised_setupterm != TRUE) {                                \
@@ -175,7 +181,7 @@ static int initialisedcolors = FALSE;
  */
 
 static PyObject *
-PyCursesCheckERR(int code, char *fname)
+PyCursesCheckERR(int code, const char *fname)
 {
     if (code != ERR) {
         Py_INCREF(Py_None);
@@ -190,25 +196,195 @@ PyCursesCheckERR(int code, char *fname)
     }
 }
 
+/* Convert an object to a byte (an integer of type chtype):
+
+   - int
+   - bytes of length 1
+   - str of length 1
+
+   Return 1 on success, 0 on error (invalid type or integer overflow). */
 static int
-PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(PyObject *obj, chtype *ch)
+PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(PyCursesWindowObject *win, PyObject *obj, chtype *ch)
 {
-    if (PyLong_CheckExact(obj)) {
-        int overflow;
-        /* XXX should the truncation by the cast also be reported
-           as an error? */
-        *ch = (chtype) PyLong_AsLongAndOverflow(obj, &overflow);
-        if (overflow)
+    long value;
+    if(PyBytes_Check(obj) && PyBytes_Size(obj) == 1) {
+        value = (unsigned char)PyBytes_AsString(obj)[0];
+    }
+    else if (PyUnicode_Check(obj)) {
+        if (PyUnicode_GetSize(obj) != 1) {
+            PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
+                         "expect bytes or str of length 1, or int, "
+                         "got a str of length %zi",
+                         PyUnicode_GET_SIZE(obj));
             return 0;
-    } else if(PyBytes_Check(obj)
-              && (PyBytes_Size(obj) == 1)) {
-        *ch = (chtype) *PyBytes_AsString(obj);
-    } else if (PyUnicode_Check(obj) && PyUnicode_GetSize(obj) == 1) {
-        *ch = (chtype) *PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(obj);
-    } else {
+        }
+        value = PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(obj)[0];
+        if (128 < value) {
+            PyObject *bytes;
+            const char *encoding;
+            if (win)
+                encoding = win->encoding;
+            else
+                encoding = screen_encoding;
+            bytes = PyUnicode_AsEncodedObject(obj, encoding, NULL);
+            if (bytes == NULL)
+                return 0;
+            if (PyBytes_GET_SIZE(bytes) == 1)
+                value = (unsigned char)PyBytes_AS_STRING(bytes)[0];
+            else
+                value = -1;
+            Py_DECREF(bytes);
+        }
+    }
+    else if (PyLong_CheckExact(obj)) {
+        int long_overflow;
+        value = PyLong_AsLongAndOverflow(obj, &long_overflow);
+        if (long_overflow)
+            goto overflow;
+    }
+    else {
+        PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
+                     "expect bytes or str of length 1, or int, got %s",
+                     Py_TYPE(obj)->tp_name);
         return 0;
     }
+    if (value < 0 || value > 255)
+        goto overflow;
+    *ch = (chtype)value;
+    if ((wchar_t)*ch != value)
+        goto overflow;
     return 1;
+
+overflow:
+    PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
+                    "byte doesn't fit in chtype");
+    return 0;
+}
+
+/* Convert an object to a byte (integer of type chtype) or a character
+   (cchar_t):
+
+    - int
+    - bytes of length 1
+    - str of length 1
+
+   Return:
+
+    - 2 if obj is a character (written into *wch)
+    - 1 if obj is a byte (written into *ch)
+    - 0 on error: raise an exception */
+static int
+PyCurses_ConvertToCchar_t(PyCursesWindowObject *win, PyObject *obj,
+                          chtype *ch
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+                          , cchar_t *wch
+#endif
+                          )
+{
+    int ret = 0;
+    long value;
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    wchar_t buffer[2];
+#endif
+
+    if (PyUnicode_Check(obj)) {
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+        if (PyUnicode_AsWideChar(obj, buffer, 2) != 1) {
+            PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
+                         "expect bytes or str of length 1, or int, "
+                         "got a str of length %zi",
+                         PyUnicode_GET_SIZE(obj));
+            return 0;
+        }
+        value = PyUnicode_AS_UNICODE(obj)[0];
+
+        memset(wch->chars, 0, sizeof(wch->chars));
+        wch->chars[0] = buffer[0];
+        return 2;
+#else
+        return PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(win, obj, ch);
+#endif
+    }
+    else if(PyBytes_Check(obj) && PyBytes_Size(obj) == 1) {
+        value = (unsigned char)PyBytes_AsString(obj)[0];
+        ret = 1;
+    }
+    else if (PyLong_CheckExact(obj)) {
+        int overflow;
+        value = PyLong_AsLongAndOverflow(obj, &overflow);
+        if (overflow) {
+            PyErr_SetString(PyExc_OverflowError,
+                            "int doesn't fit in long");
+            return 0;
+        }
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+        ret = 2;
+#else
+        ret = 1;
+#endif
+    }
+    else {
+        PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
+                     "expect bytes or str of length 1, or int, got %s",
+                     Py_TYPE(obj)->tp_name);
+        return 0;
+    }
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    if (ret == 2) {
+        memset(wch->chars, 0, sizeof(wch->chars));
+        wch->chars[0] = (wchar_t)value;
+        if ((long)wch->chars[0] != value) {
+            PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError,
+                         "character doesn't fit in wchar_t");
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+    else
+#endif
+    {
+        *ch = (chtype)value;
+        if ((long)*ch != value || value < 0 || value > 255) {
+            PyErr_Format(PyExc_OverflowError,
+                         "byte doesn't fit in chtype");
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+    return ret;
+}
+
+/* Convert an object to a byte string (char*) or a wide character string
+   (wchar_t*). Return:
+
+    - 2 if obj is a character string (written into *wch)
+    - 1 if obj is a byte string (written into *bytes)
+    - 0 on error: raise an exception */
+static int
+PyCurses_ConvertToString(PyCursesWindowObject *win, PyObject *obj,
+                         PyObject **bytes, wchar_t **wstr)
+{
+    if (PyUnicode_Check(obj)) {
+        if (wstr != NULL) {
+            *wstr = PyUnicode_AsWideCharString(obj, NULL);
+            if (*wstr == NULL)
+                return 0;
+            return 2;
+        }
+        else {
+            *bytes = PyUnicode_AsEncodedObject(obj, win->encoding, NULL);
+            if (*bytes == NULL)
+                return 0;
+            return 1;
+        }
+    }
+    else if (PyBytes_Check(obj)) {
+        Py_INCREF(obj);
+        *bytes = obj;
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, "expect bytes or str, got %s",
+                 Py_TYPE(obj)->tp_name);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /* Function versions of the 3 functions for testing whether curses has been
@@ -354,13 +530,37 @@ Window_TwoArgNoReturnFunction(wresize, i
 /* Allocation and deallocation of Window Objects */
 
 static PyObject *
-PyCursesWindow_New(WINDOW *win)
+PyCursesWindow_New(WINDOW *win, const char *encoding)
 {
     PyCursesWindowObject *wo;
 
+    if (encoding == NULL) {
+#if defined(MS_WINDOWS)
+        char *buffer[100];
+        UINT cp;
+        cp = GetConsoleOutputCP();
+        if (cp != 0) {
+            PyOS_snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "cp%u", cp);
+            encoding = buffer;
+        }
+#elif defined(CODESET)
+        const char *codeset = nl_langinfo(CODESET);
+        if (codeset != NULL && codeset[0] != 0)
+            encoding = codeset;
+#endif
+        if (encoding == NULL)
+            encoding = "utf-8";
+    }
+
     wo = PyObject_NEW(PyCursesWindowObject, &PyCursesWindow_Type);
     if (wo == NULL) return NULL;
     wo->win = win;
+    wo->encoding = strdup(encoding);
+    if (wo->encoding == NULL) {
+        Py_DECREF(wo);
+        PyErr_NoMemory();
+        return NULL;
+    }
     return (PyObject *)wo;
 }
 
@@ -368,6 +568,8 @@ static void
 PyCursesWindow_Dealloc(PyCursesWindowObject *wo)
 {
     if (wo->win != stdscr) delwin(wo->win);
+    if (wo->encoding != NULL)
+        free(wo->encoding);
     PyObject_DEL(wo);
 }
 
@@ -377,29 +579,34 @@ static PyObject *
 PyCursesWindow_AddCh(PyCursesWindowObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     int rtn, x, y, use_xy = FALSE;
-    PyObject *temp;
-    chtype ch = 0;
+    PyObject *chobj;
+    int type;
+    chtype ch;
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    cchar_t wch;
+#endif
     attr_t attr = A_NORMAL;
     long lattr;
+    const char *funcname;
 
     switch (PyTuple_Size(args)) {
     case 1:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O;ch or int", &temp))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "O;ch or int", &chobj))
             return NULL;
         break;
     case 2:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Ol;ch or int,attr", &temp, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "Ol;ch or int,attr", &chobj, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         break;
     case 3:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiO;y,x,ch or int", &y, &x, &temp))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiO;y,x,ch or int", &y, &x, &chobj))
             return NULL;
         use_xy = TRUE;
         break;
     case 4:
         if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiOl;y,x,ch or int, attr",
-                              &y, &x, &temp, &lattr))
+                              &y, &x, &chobj, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_xy = TRUE;
@@ -409,17 +616,33 @@ PyCursesWindow_AddCh(PyCursesWindowObjec
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &ch)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument 1 or 3 must be a ch or an int");
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    type = PyCurses_ConvertToCchar_t(self, chobj, &ch, &wch);
+    if (type == 2) {
+        funcname = "add_wch";
+        wch.attr = attr;
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwadd_wch(self->win,y,x, &wch);
+        else {
+            rtn = wadd_wch(self->win, &wch);
+        }
+    }
+    else
+#else
+    type = PyCurses_ConvertToCchar_t(self, chobj, &ch);
+#endif
+    if (type == 1) {
+        funcname = "addch";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwaddch(self->win,y,x, ch | attr);
+        else {
+            rtn = waddch(self->win, ch | attr);
+        }
+    }
+    else {
         return NULL;
     }
-
-    if (use_xy == TRUE)
-        rtn = mvwaddch(self->win,y,x, ch | attr);
-    else {
-        rtn = waddch(self->win, ch | attr);
-    }
-    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, "addch");
+    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, funcname);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -427,29 +650,34 @@ PyCursesWindow_AddStr(PyCursesWindowObje
 {
     int rtn;
     int x, y;
-    char *str;
+    int strtype;
+    PyObject *strobj, *bytesobj;
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    wchar_t *wstr = NULL;
+#endif
     attr_t attr = A_NORMAL , attr_old = A_NORMAL;
     long lattr;
     int use_xy = FALSE, use_attr = FALSE;
+    const char *funcname;
 
     switch (PyTuple_Size(args)) {
     case 1:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"s;str", &str))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"O;str", &strobj))
             return NULL;
         break;
     case 2:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"sl;str,attr", &str, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"Ol;str,attr", &strobj, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_attr = TRUE;
         break;
     case 3:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iis;int,int,str", &y, &x, &str))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiO;int,int,str", &y, &x, &strobj))
             return NULL;
         use_xy = TRUE;
         break;
     case 4:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iisl;int,int,str,attr", &y, &x, &str, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiOl;int,int,str,attr", &y, &x, &strobj, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_xy = use_attr = TRUE;
@@ -458,47 +686,74 @@ PyCursesWindow_AddStr(PyCursesWindowObje
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "addstr requires 1 to 4 arguments");
         return NULL;
     }
-
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, &wstr);
+#else
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, NULL);
+#endif
+    if (strtype == 0)
+        return NULL;
     if (use_attr == TRUE) {
         attr_old = getattrs(self->win);
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr);
     }
-    if (use_xy == TRUE)
-        rtn = mvwaddstr(self->win,y,x,str);
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    if (strtype == 2) {
+        funcname = "addwstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwaddwstr(self->win,y,x,wstr);
+        else
+            rtn = waddwstr(self->win,wstr);
+        PyMem_Free(wstr);
+    }
     else
-        rtn = waddstr(self->win,str);
+#endif
+    {
+        char *str = PyBytes_AS_STRING(bytesobj);
+        funcname = "addstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwaddstr(self->win,y,x,str);
+        else
+            rtn = waddstr(self->win,str);
+        Py_DECREF(bytesobj);
+    }
     if (use_attr == TRUE)
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr_old);
-    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, "addstr");
+    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, funcname);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
 PyCursesWindow_AddNStr(PyCursesWindowObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     int rtn, x, y, n;
-    char *str;
+    int strtype;
+    PyObject *strobj, *bytesobj;
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    wchar_t *wstr = NULL;
+#endif
     attr_t attr = A_NORMAL , attr_old = A_NORMAL;
     long lattr;
     int use_xy = FALSE, use_attr = FALSE;
+    const char *funcname;
 
     switch (PyTuple_Size(args)) {
     case 2:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"si;str,n", &str, &n))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"Oi;str,n", &strobj, &n))
             return NULL;
         break;
     case 3:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"sil;str,n,attr", &str, &n, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"Oil;str,n,attr", &strobj, &n, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_attr = TRUE;
         break;
     case 4:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iisi;y,x,str,n", &y, &x, &str, &n))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiOi;y,x,str,n", &y, &x, &strobj, &n))
             return NULL;
         use_xy = TRUE;
         break;
     case 5:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iisil;y,x,str,n,attr", &y, &x, &str, &n, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiOil;y,x,str,n,attr", &y, &x, &strobj, &n, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_xy = use_attr = TRUE;
@@ -507,18 +762,41 @@ PyCursesWindow_AddNStr(PyCursesWindowObj
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "addnstr requires 2 to 5 arguments");
         return NULL;
     }
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, &wstr);
+#else
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, NULL);
+#endif
+    if (strtype == 0)
+        return NULL;
 
     if (use_attr == TRUE) {
         attr_old = getattrs(self->win);
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr);
     }
-    if (use_xy == TRUE)
-        rtn = mvwaddnstr(self->win,y,x,str,n);
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    if (strtype == 2) {
+        funcname = "addnwstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwaddnwstr(self->win,y,x,wstr,n);
+        else
+            rtn = waddnwstr(self->win,wstr,n);
+        PyMem_Free(wstr);
+    }
     else
-        rtn = waddnstr(self->win,str,n);
+#endif
+    {
+        char *str = PyBytes_AS_STRING(bytesobj);
+        funcname = "addnstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwaddnstr(self->win,y,x,str,n);
+        else
+            rtn = waddnstr(self->win,str,n);
+        Py_DECREF(bytesobj);
+    }
     if (use_attr == TRUE)
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr_old);
-    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, "addnstr");
+    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, funcname);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -544,10 +822,8 @@ PyCursesWindow_Bkgd(PyCursesWindowObject
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &bkgd)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument 1 or 3 must be a ch or an int");
+    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(self, temp, &bkgd))
         return NULL;
-    }
 
     return PyCursesCheckERR(wbkgd(self->win, bkgd | attr), "bkgd");
 }
@@ -602,10 +878,8 @@ PyCursesWindow_BkgdSet(PyCursesWindowObj
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &bkgd)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument 1 must be a ch or an int");
+    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(self, temp, &bkgd))
         return NULL;
-    }
 
     wbkgdset(self->win, bkgd | attr);
     return PyCursesCheckERR(0, "bkgdset");
@@ -630,11 +904,8 @@ PyCursesWindow_Border(PyCursesWindowObje
         return NULL;
 
     for(i=0; i<8; i++) {
-        if (temp[i] != NULL && !PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp[i], &ch[i])) {
-            PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
-                         "argument %i must be a ch or an int", i+1);
+        if (temp[i] != NULL && !PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(self, temp[i], &ch[i]))
             return NULL;
-        }
     }
 
     wborder(self->win,
@@ -779,7 +1050,7 @@ PyCursesWindow_DerWin(PyCursesWindowObje
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win);
+    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win, NULL);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -807,10 +1078,8 @@ PyCursesWindow_EchoChar(PyCursesWindowOb
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &ch)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument 1 must be a ch or an int");
+    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(self, temp, &ch))
         return NULL;
-    }
 
 #ifdef WINDOW_HAS_FLAGS
     if (self->win->_flags & _ISPAD)
@@ -1029,11 +1298,8 @@ PyCursesWindow_Hline(PyCursesWindowObjec
     }
 
     if (code != ERR) {
-        if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &ch)) {
-            PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
-                            "argument 1 or 3 must be a ch or an int");
+        if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(self, temp, &ch))
             return NULL;
-        }
         return PyCursesCheckERR(whline(self->win, ch | attr, n), "hline");
     } else
         return PyCursesCheckERR(code, "wmove");
@@ -1074,11 +1340,8 @@ PyCursesWindow_InsCh(PyCursesWindowObjec
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &ch)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
-                        "argument 1 or 3 must be a ch or an int");
+    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(self, temp, &ch))
         return NULL;
-    }
 
     if (use_xy == TRUE)
         rtn = mvwinsch(self->win,y,x, ch | attr);
@@ -1149,29 +1412,34 @@ PyCursesWindow_InsStr(PyCursesWindowObje
 {
     int rtn;
     int x, y;
-    char *str;
+    int strtype;
+    PyObject *strobj, *bytesobj;
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    wchar_t *wstr = NULL;
+#endif
     attr_t attr = A_NORMAL , attr_old = A_NORMAL;
     long lattr;
     int use_xy = FALSE, use_attr = FALSE;
+    const char *funcname;
 
     switch (PyTuple_Size(args)) {
     case 1:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"s;str", &str))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"O;str", &strobj))
             return NULL;
         break;
     case 2:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"sl;str,attr", &str, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"Ol;str,attr", &strobj, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_attr = TRUE;
         break;
     case 3:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iis;y,x,str", &y, &x, &str))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiO;y,x,str", &y, &x, &strobj))
             return NULL;
         use_xy = TRUE;
         break;
     case 4:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iisl;y,x,str,attr", &y, &x, &str, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiOl;y,x,str,attr", &y, &x, &strobj, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_xy = use_attr = TRUE;
@@ -1181,46 +1449,75 @@ PyCursesWindow_InsStr(PyCursesWindowObje
         return NULL;
     }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, &wstr);
+#else
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, NULL);
+#endif
+    if (strtype == 0)
+        return NULL;
+
     if (use_attr == TRUE) {
         attr_old = getattrs(self->win);
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr);
     }
-    if (use_xy == TRUE)
-        rtn = mvwinsstr(self->win,y,x,str);
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    if (strtype == 2) {
+        funcname = "inswstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwins_wstr(self->win,y,x,wstr);
+        else
+            rtn = wins_wstr(self->win,wstr);
+        PyMem_Free(wstr);
+    }
     else
-        rtn = winsstr(self->win,str);
+#endif
+    {
+        char *str = PyBytes_AS_STRING(bytesobj);
+        funcname = "insstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwinsstr(self->win,y,x,str);
+        else
+            rtn = winsstr(self->win,str);
+        Py_DECREF(bytesobj);
+    }
     if (use_attr == TRUE)
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr_old);
-    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, "insstr");
+    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, funcname);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
 PyCursesWindow_InsNStr(PyCursesWindowObject *self, PyObject *args)
 {
     int rtn, x, y, n;
-    char *str;
+    int strtype;
+    PyObject *strobj, *bytesobj;
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    wchar_t *wstr = NULL;
+#endif
     attr_t attr = A_NORMAL , attr_old = A_NORMAL;
     long lattr;
     int use_xy = FALSE, use_attr = FALSE;
+    const char *funcname;
 
     switch (PyTuple_Size(args)) {
     case 2:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"si;str,n", &str, &n))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"Oi;str,n", &strobj, &n))
             return NULL;
         break;
     case 3:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"sil;str,n,attr", &str, &n, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"Oil;str,n,attr", &strobj, &n, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_attr = TRUE;
         break;
     case 4:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iisi;y,x,str,n", &y, &x, &str, &n))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiOi;y,x,str,n", &y, &x, &strobj, &n))
             return NULL;
         use_xy = TRUE;
         break;
     case 5:
-        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iisil;y,x,str,n,attr", &y, &x, &str, &n, &lattr))
+        if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"iiOil;y,x,str,n,attr", &y, &x, &strobj, &n, &lattr))
             return NULL;
         attr = lattr;
         use_xy = use_attr = TRUE;
@@ -1230,17 +1527,41 @@ PyCursesWindow_InsNStr(PyCursesWindowObj
         return NULL;
     }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, &wstr);
+#else
+    strtype = PyCurses_ConvertToString(self, strobj, &bytesobj, NULL);
+#endif
+    if (strtype == 0)
+        return NULL;
+
     if (use_attr == TRUE) {
         attr_old = getattrs(self->win);
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr);
     }
-    if (use_xy == TRUE)
-        rtn = mvwinsnstr(self->win,y,x,str,n);
+#ifdef HAVE_NCURSESW
+    if (strtype == 2) {
+        funcname = "insn_wstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwins_nwstr(self->win,y,x,wstr,n);
+        else
+            rtn = wins_nwstr(self->win,wstr,n);
+        PyMem_Free(wstr);
+    }
     else
-        rtn = winsnstr(self->win,str,n);
+#endif
+    {
+        char *str = PyBytes_AS_STRING(bytesobj);
+        funcname = "insnstr";
+        if (use_xy == TRUE)
+            rtn = mvwinsnstr(self->win,y,x,str,n);
+        else
+            rtn = winsnstr(self->win,str,n);
+        Py_DECREF(bytesobj);
+    }
     if (use_attr == TRUE)
         (void)wattrset(self->win,attr_old);
-    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, "insnstr");
+    return PyCursesCheckERR(rtn, funcname);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -1521,7 +1842,7 @@ PyCursesWindow_SubWin(PyCursesWindowObje
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win);
+    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win, self->encoding);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -1597,11 +1918,8 @@ PyCursesWindow_Vline(PyCursesWindowObjec
     }
 
     if (code != ERR) {
-        if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &ch)) {
-            PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
-                            "argument 1 or 3 must be a ch or an int");
+        if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(self, temp, &ch))
             return NULL;
-        }
         return PyCursesCheckERR(wvline(self->win, ch | attr, n), "vline");
     } else
         return PyCursesCheckERR(code, "wmove");
@@ -1946,7 +2264,7 @@ PyCurses_GetWin(PyCursesWindowObject *se
         PyErr_SetString(PyCursesError, catchall_NULL);
         return NULL;
     }
-    return PyCursesWindow_New(win);
+    return PyCursesWindow_New(win, NULL);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -2024,10 +2342,11 @@ static PyObject *
 PyCurses_InitScr(PyObject *self)
 {
     WINDOW *win;
+    PyCursesWindowObject *winobj;
 
     if (initialised == TRUE) {
         wrefresh(stdscr);
-        return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(stdscr);
+        return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(stdscr, NULL);
     }
 
     win = initscr();
@@ -2061,7 +2380,7 @@ PyCurses_InitScr(PyObject *self)
     SetDictInt("ACS_HLINE",         (ACS_HLINE));
     SetDictInt("ACS_VLINE",         (ACS_VLINE));
     SetDictInt("ACS_PLUS",          (ACS_PLUS));
-#if !defined(__hpux) || defined(HAVE_NCURSES_H)
+#if 1
     /* On HP/UX 11, these are of type cchar_t, which is not an
        integral type. If this is a problem on more platforms, a
        configure test should be added to determine whether ACS_S1
@@ -2119,7 +2438,9 @@ PyCurses_InitScr(PyObject *self)
     SetDictInt("LINES", LINES);
     SetDictInt("COLS", COLS);
 
-    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win);
+    winobj = (PyCursesWindowObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win, NULL);
+    screen_encoding = winobj->encoding;
+    return (PyObject *)winobj;
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -2321,7 +2642,7 @@ PyCurses_NewPad(PyObject *self, PyObject
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win);
+    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win, NULL);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -2353,7 +2674,7 @@ PyCurses_NewWindow(PyObject *self, PyObj
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win);
+    return (PyObject *)PyCursesWindow_New(win, NULL);
 }
 
 static PyObject *
@@ -2408,7 +2729,8 @@ PyCurses_Putp(PyObject *self, PyObject *
 {
     char *str;
 
-    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"s;str", &str)) return NULL;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"s;str", &str))
+        return NULL;
     return PyCursesCheckERR(putp(str), "putp");
 }
 
@@ -2666,10 +2988,8 @@ PyCurses_UnCtrl(PyObject *self, PyObject
 
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"O;ch or int",&temp)) return NULL;
 
-    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &ch)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument must be a ch or an int");
+    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(NULL, temp, &ch))
         return NULL;
-    }
 
     return PyBytes_FromString(unctrl(ch));
 }
@@ -2684,10 +3004,8 @@ PyCurses_UngetCh(PyObject *self, PyObjec
 
     if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args,"O;ch or int",&temp)) return NULL;
 
-    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(temp, &ch)) {
-        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError, "argument must be a ch or an int");
+    if (!PyCurses_ConvertToChtype(NULL, temp, &ch))
         return NULL;
-    }
 
     return PyCursesCheckERR(ungetch(ch), "ungetch");
 }
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1161,6 +1161,10 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
         else:
             missing.extend(['nis', 'resource', 'termios'])
 
+        curses_defines = []
+        if curses_library == 'ncursesw':
+            curses_defines.append(('HAVE_NCURSESW', '1'))
+
         # Curses support, requiring the System V version of curses, often
         # provided by the ncurses library.
         panel_library = 'panel'
@@ -1171,6 +1175,7 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
                 panel_library = 'panelw'
             curses_libs = [curses_library]
             exts.append( Extension('_curses', ['_cursesmodule.c'],
+                                   define_macros=curses_defines,
                                    libraries = curses_libs) )
         elif curses_library == 'curses' and platform != 'darwin':
                 # OSX has an old Berkeley curses, not good enough for
@@ -1183,6 +1188,7 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
                 curses_libs = ['curses']
 
             exts.append( Extension('_curses', ['_cursesmodule.c'],
+                                   define_macros=curses_defines,
                                    libraries = curses_libs) )
         else:
             missing.append('_curses')