diff --git a/pelican/contents.py b/pelican/contents.py
index 4655d4cc..bd257ad8 100644
--- a/pelican/contents.py
+++ b/pelican/contents.py
@@ -243,7 +243,9 @@ class Article(Page):
 class Quote(Page):
     base_properties = ('author', 'date')
 
+
 @python_2_unicode_compatible
+@functools.total_ordering
 class URLWrapper(object):
     def __init__(self, name, settings):
         self.name = name
@@ -256,8 +258,20 @@ class URLWrapper(object):
     def __hash__(self):
         return hash(self.name)
 
+    def _key(self):
+        return self.name
+
+    def _normalize_key(self, key):
+        return six.text_type(key)
+
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        return self.name == other
+        return self._key() == self._normalize_key(other)
+
+    def __ne__(self, other):
+        return self._key() != self._normalize_key(other)
+
+    def __lt__(self, other):
+        return self._key() < self._normalize_key(other)
 
     def __str__(self):
         return self.name
diff --git a/pelican/generators.py b/pelican/generators.py
index ce102a31..49b6bc1d 100644
--- a/pelican/generators.py
+++ b/pelican/generators.py
@@ -416,11 +416,10 @@ class ArticlesGenerator(Generator):
         # order the categories per name
         self.categories = list(self.categories.items())
         self.categories.sort(
-                key=lambda item: item[0].name,
                 reverse=self.settings['REVERSE_CATEGORY_ORDER'])
 
         self.authors = list(self.authors.items())
-        self.authors.sort(key=lambda item: item[0].name)
+        self.authors.sort()
 
         self._update_context(('articles', 'dates', 'tags', 'categories',
                               'tag_cloud', 'authors', 'related_posts'))