Maria Pappas, "Maria the Pappas"

Maria the Pappas is an autobiographical portrait of Maria Pappas that explains not simply what she has done, but why she became the person she is. The memoir presents Pappas as a collection of apparent contradictions: a hard-driving politician and deeply emotional helper; a government reformer and flamboyant public personality; a Cretan Greek from West Virginia who became a fixture of Chicago politics; and a woman comfortable confronting powerful politicians while also spending enormous amounts of time with ordinary taxpayers, immigrants, clergy, community activists and people experiencing hardship. Pappas describes herself as bold, direct and authentic, but says the fundamental values underneath that personality are faith, honesty, loyalty and service.