diff --git a/Lib/rfc822.py b/Lib/rfc822.py
index 3d9e13f..4f69b22 100644
--- a/Lib/rfc822.py
+++ b/Lib/rfc822.py
@@ -477,9 +477,9 @@
 def unquote(str):
     """Remove quotes from a string."""
     if len(str) > 1:
-        if str[0] == '"' and str[-1:] == '"':
-            return str[1:-1]
-        if str[0] == '<' and str[-1:] == '>':
+        if str.startswith('"') and str.endswith('"'):
+            return str[1:-1].replace('\\\\', '\\').replace('\\"', '"')
+        if str.startswith('<') and str.endswith('>'):
             return str[1:-1]
     return str