299:
hardly ever described in any detail. The adventures in the books almost invariably concern the other kind of client - who can't afford to pay her full rates, or can't pay her at all, but she decides to take their cases anyway because of some intrinsic detail arousing her feeling of justice. She can persist in an investigation even when the client who originated it asks her to stop or is dead, and sometimes she starts an investigation on her own without a client at all. Sometimes at the end of such a case somebody who benefited from her efforts - not necessarily the original client - volunteers to pay her. But such luck cannot be relied on. At the end of several books Vic ends up - after having spent much time, effort, and money from her own pocket, risked her life and gotten battered and wounded - with no material benefits to show for it, nothing but the satisfaction of having done something good. This does not discourage her from later taking up another such case.
381:
appear in more than one book, even after the formal relationship has ended. Warshawski can be a passionate and caring lover, and feels deeply hurt when a relationship is ended. She is fiercely independent even towards men she loves, would not consider living with one, and deeply resents their feeling protective towards her. Men who love her want to do so when she repeatedly risks her life in pursuing a hot case.
396:. Having a typical Polish name and having grown up in a predominantly Polish American neighborhood, she is sometimes mistaken for a Catholic. In fact, her relations with the Catholic Church are complicated and ambiguous. Her childhood was overshadowed by a particularly tyrannical, bigoted, and racist Polish parish priest. In one book she gets into head-on confrontation with a manifestly criminal
392:. Dr. Herschel treats Vic's various illnesses and combat-related injuries and is, in effect, her surrogate mother. With both actual mother and surrogate mother being refugees from the Nazis, Vic outspokenly identifies herself as being Jewish, though not religious and not member of any organized community. She has deep identification with Jewish history before and during the
39:
404:
Vic makes quite clear where she stands politically - detesting the
Republican Party and all its works, also not very enthusiastic about the Democratic Party establishment but on occasion supporting Progressive Democrat candidates. The cases she works on often get her involved with ethnic minorities -
302:
In most novels, Vic is drawn into murder cases connected to white-collar crime. She often ends up pursuing cases that affect her friends, estranged family, or those who she feels are being bullied by the wealthier and more powerful of
Chicago. She repeatedly uncovers and confronts major combinations
298:
Vic's clients fall into two distinct categories. There are the "bread and butter" clients who offer her fairly routine private detective jobs, which usually do not carry too much personal risk, and who pay promptly her full rates. It is these who provide her livelihood, but what she does for them is
905:
There is some inconsistency between different books regarding the time when
Gabriella fled Italy. In some books it is placed as early as 1938 or 1939, immediately after Mussolini enacted his anti-Jewish legislation. In other books it is placed at the time when Italy was already under direct German
400:
with the Church hierarchy solidly behind him, and whom the
Chicago Police - with a preponderance of Irish and Polish Catholics - dare not touch. On the other hand, Vic has a warm and affectionate contact with a Progressive Catholic priest working in a slum neighborhood who appears in several books
239:
and factories. Together with her cousin Boom-Boom, she had many wild and dangerous adventures – becoming especially wild and reckless in the period of deep grief after her mother's death. She learned techniques of street-fighting that were useful in her later career. She was involved in the girls'
380:
In addition to one failed marriage, Vic has had several lovers over the years, such as
English insurance executive Roger Ferrant; Conrad Rawlings, a black Chicago police detective ; war correspondent and human rights activist C.L. Morrell; and musician Jake Thibault. Some of these characters
324:
Hot-tempered, sarcastic, and fiercely self-reliant, Vic prefers T-shirts and jeans, and sleeps in the nude, but she can dress stylishly if necessary. She hates to admit being scared or vulnerable. Her capable and willful personality has led fans and literary critics to consider her one of the few
219:
noted that she has portrayed
Warshawski ageing in real time. However, in the 2010 "Hardball", Paretsky moved Warshawski's birth upwards to 1957, presumably since a 1950 birth would make her sixty years old in 2010, a bit too old for intensive physical activity. The change involved a considerably
405:
Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims and others - and she feels sympathy for illegal immigrants and occasionally gives them direct aid. Opposed to the
American wars in the Middle East, she can be sympathetic to the soldiers sent to fight in these wars and is ready to help soldiers who had been wronged.
333:
and playing her piano in times of stress. She stays trim despite a ravenous appetite and favors multi-course ethnic meals with good wine. Throughout her adventures she recounts meals - what she had eaten, where, and whether or not it was tasty. She often indulges in big, greasy breakfasts and
197:
Victoria
Iphigenia Warshawski, called "Vic" by her friends, is the daughter of Italian-born Gabriella Sestrieri, who was half-Jewish and fled the Mussolini regime in 1941. Trained as an opera singer, she was destitute when she arrived as a refugee immigrant. She met and married Anton "Tony"
506:, she began to see Vic in a different light and by the end of the book, she has offered to become Vic's partner, which Vic accepted. She provides a significant amount of assistance to Vic over time and is also the legal guardian of Emily Messenger and her two brothers
401:
and who can always be relied on to give discreet help and provide refuge to various fugitives and wayward youths which Vic encounters. The same distinction between "Progressives" and "Reactionaries" is also made in Vic's encounters with various
Protestant clergy.
268:. In the latter context, she first met Dr. Lotty Herschel, another major character, who becomes an important lifelong contact. However, as the daughter of a police officer whom she greatly loved and respected, Vic strongly objects to radicals calling the police "
206:. Gabriella spoke Italian and heavily accented English with her daughter, who became fluent in Italian. On the other hand, the American-born Tony spoke only English with her, and she picked up only a few words of Polish from her paternal grandmother.
462:, a police detective whom Vic interacts with regularly; he became openly hostile to Vic while she was dating Conrad, but their relationship improved again after they broke up and Terry saw just how deeply she had cared for Conrad
215:(published as "Toxic Shock" in the UK) refers to Vic having last been to her high school some 20 years previously, making the setting of this story 1988, the year of the book’s publication. In an interview,
793:
in the title role. The film, which took many creative liberties with
Paretsky's character, was intended as a franchise for Turner but was not a commercial success, grossing $ 11.1 million domestically.
303:
of crooked business people and corrupt politicians, much more powerful than she, and emerges with at least a partial victory. Often the identified murderer remains too powerful for the law to touch.
599:
607:
711:
703:
695:
679:
719:
687:
228:(2024), Paretsky comments that Warshawski ages more slowly than the author does, with the detective only being around 50 years old rather than Paretsky's "seventysomething."
921:
suggest that her father might also have had some Jewish ancestry, but this is never taken up again. He is presented as non-religious, unlike his devoutly Catholic relatives.
518:, a popular local sculptor and good friend of Vic. She and Vic share a large working space together after the building where her original office was located was demolished
571:
802:
766:
563:
671:
623:
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and their outlooks strongly differed. She has no children, but in many cases acts in a maternal manner towards teenagers neglected or abused by their parents.
591:
663:
655:
639:
615:
734:
647:
818:
1045:
832:
528:
newspaper; Vic's longtime friend and sometime rival; he usually refers to Vic as "O-She-who-must-be-obeyed" whenever she asks him for a favor
1050:
754:
746:
1055:
512:, a detective in the Chicago P.D. Conrad and Vic were romantically involved for a while. He often calls her by the nickname "Ms. W"
209:
Gabriella died of cancer when Vic was in high school; Tony died ten years later in 1976, suggesting that Vic was born about 1950.
886:
306:
Vic is described as a lean, athletic brunette who runs to keep in shape and does not fear physical confrontations, relying on
338:
sandwiches. She likes to soak for half an hour or more in her tub – a luxury that was not available in her childhood home.
956:
438:, statuesque owner of the Golden Glow bar and a good friend of Vic, who often refers to Sal as a "magnificent black woman"
859:
417:, a nurse at Dr. Herschel's clinic and good friend of Vic. She makes numerous appearances in the series, most notably in
269:
1065:
982:"In the business of believing women's stories": Feminism through detective fiction (Sara Paretsky, Sue Grafton)
341:
She shares two golden retrievers, Peppy and Mitch, with her downstairs neighbor, Salvatore "Sal" Contreras - a
224:
and re-writing many events of Warshawski's childhood to fit with the new chronology. In a note at the end of
1060:
426:, Carol's brother and an architectural student. He thinks highly of Vic and considers her extended family
484:, Lotty’s significant other; executive director of Beth Israel Hospital and an art and music aficionado
397:
374:
1070:
203:
502:, an officer in the Chicago P.D. She was distant and indifferent to Vic when they first met, but in
291:. She married fellow law student Dick Yarborough, but they divorced after two years. He became a
232:
800:
has produced four radio dramas based on novels in the series, starting in 1991. The first two,
784:
257:
221:
186:
20:
314:
241:
163:
185:
With the exception of "The Pietro Andromache", Warshawski's adventures are written in the
8:
369:, closely following the ups and downs of their respective careers. Her favorite brand of
318:
995:
906:
occupation, and Jews were being hunted and sent to extermination camps, in 1942 or 1943.
244:
on a sports scholarship. During her university years, she became deeply involved in the
864:
579:
288:
211:
961:
891:
631:
432:, Paul and Carol's younger brother. Like Paul and Carol, he holds Vic in high esteem.
366:
311:
284:
171:
917:
808:
555:
292:
1000:
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326:
280:
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245:
199:
78:
966:
547:
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350:
56:
43:
Warshawski, as depicted by illustrator for the cover of short-story collection
478:
at Beth Israel Hospital; formerly had her own clinic as a general practitioner
1039:
362:
249:
216:
179:
68:
38:
855:
824:
813:
354:
83:
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who took part in organizing militant strikes. She is an ardent fan of the
797:
261:
240:
basketball team in her school, called "The Lady Tigers", and entered the
175:
388:
physician Dr. Charlotte "Lotty" Herschel, who as a Jewish child escaped
490:, a Lieutenant in the Chicago P.D. and friend of Vic's late father Tony
276:
236:
393:
389:
253:
450:, Vic's downstairs widower neighbor and self-appointed father figure
456:, a British businessman and one of Vic's earlier romantic interests
358:
335:
770:(2020) (fourteen stories, eight of which feature V.I. Warshawski)
167:
981:
1021:
385:
370:
307:
931:
346:
256:, traveling hundreds of miles to attend rallies addressed by
342:
330:
468:, an extremely important and long-standing client of Vic's
812:, feature Kathleen Turner reprising her movie role, with
377:, though she takes care not to drink it on the job.
496:, police sergeant who regularly interacts with Vic
1037:
170:who is the protagonist featured in a series of
915:Remarks by some of V.I.'s Polish relatives in
816:as Dr. Charlotte “Lotty” Herschel. The third,
950:
948:
884:
16:Fictional private investigator from Chicago
727:
945:
325:feminist detectives. She loves opera and
985:(M.A. thesis) Wilfrid Laurier University
957:"V.I. Warshawski: A Surveillance Report"
954:
408:
1046:Literary characters introduced in 1982
1038:
854:
973:
850:
848:
831:, is a dramatic reading performed by
827:as Warshawski. A fourth production,
887:"Sara Paretsky: A Gun of One's Own"
13:
845:
14:
1082:
1051:Fictional characters from Chicago
444:, Vic's legal counsel on retainer
248:of the 1960s, taking part in the
885:Rozan, S.J. (October 25, 1999).
542:With year of first publication:
123:Anton "Tony" Warshawski (father)
37:
1056:Fictional private investigators
532:
279:and working a short stint as a
266:an underground abortion service
1014:
988:
955:Grahnke, Lon (July 28, 1991).
934:. Saraparetsky.com. 2010-08-31
924:
909:
899:
878:
774:
472:Dr. Charlotte "Lotty" Herschel
1:
838:
349:, as well as being a retired
235:, in the shadow of shuttered
99:Victoria Iphigenia Warshawski
782:was adapted as a 1991 film,
260:, demonstrating against the
192:
133:Dick Yarborough (ex-husband)
125:Gabriella Sestrieri (mother)
7:
10:
1087:
375:Johnnie Walker Black Label
178:written by Chicago author
18:
537:
233:southeast side of Chicago
137:
129:
119:
111:
103:
95:
90:
74:
64:
51:
36:
31:
1066:Fictional Polish people
767:Love & Other Crimes
728:Short story collections
91:In-universe information
979:Martin, Nora. (1996).
932:"Author Sara Paretsky"
738:(1995) – published as
583:(1988) – published as
384:Her closest friend is
345:veteran who fought at
258:Martin Luther King Jr.
21:V.I. Warshawski (film)
315:semi-automatic pistol
264:, and taking part in
242:University of Chicago
409:Recurring characters
390:Nazi-Annexed Austria
317:with its nine-round
164:private investigator
115:Private investigator
1026:Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk
758:(2011) (supersedes
474:, close friend and
448:Salvatore Contreras
231:Vic grew up on the
26:Fictional character
1061:Fictional karateka
996:"V. I. Warshawski"
969:on March 28, 2015.
865:The New York Times
524:, reporter at the
312:Smith & Wesson
289:white-collar crime
202:police officer in
148:Victoria Iphigenia
19:For the film, see
962:Chicago Sun-Times
892:Publishers Weekly
860:"V.I. Warshawski"
500:Mary Louise Neely
285:private detective
145:
144:
81:(Film, BBC Radio)
1078:
1071:BBC Radio dramas
1030:
1029:
1018:
1012:
1011:
1009:
1008:
992:
986:
977:
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965:. Archived from
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913:
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903:
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882:
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858:(26 July 1991).
852:
829:Publicity Stunts
785:V. I. Warshawski
735:Windy City Blues
329:, often singing
293:corporate lawyer
287:specializing in
275:After earning a
172:detective novels
52:First appearance
41:
32:V. I. Warshawski
29:
28:
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1080:
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1076:
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1036:
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1034:
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1019:
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1006:
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1001:Box Office Mojo
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819:Bitter Medicine
791:Kathleen Turner
777:
730:
572:Bitter Medicine
540:
535:
510:Conrad Rawlings
494:John McGonnigal
466:Darraugh Graham
419:Bitter Medicine
411:
327:classical music
283:, she became a
281:public defender
246:counter-culture
200:Polish American
195:
162:is a fictional
124:
82:
79:Kathleen Turner
47:
27:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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987:
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843:
842:
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837:
803:Killing Orders
776:
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751:
743:
740:V.I. for Short
729:
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652:
644:
636:
628:
620:
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604:
600:Guardian Angel
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588:
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564:Killing Orders
560:
552:
548:Indemnity Only
539:
536:
534:
531:
530:
529:
522:Murray Ryerson
519:
516:Tessa Reynolds
513:
507:
497:
491:
485:
482:Max Loewenthal
479:
476:perinatologist
469:
463:
460:Terry Finchley
457:
451:
445:
442:Freeman Carter
439:
433:
430:Diego Alvarado
427:
421:
415:Carol Alvarado
410:
407:
351:trade unionist
198:Warshawski, a
194:
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57:Indemnity Only
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4:
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856:Maslin, Janet
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672:Critical Mass
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608:Tunnel Vision
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504:Tunnel Vision
501:
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488:Bobby Mallory
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461:
458:
455:
454:Roger Ferrant
452:
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431:
428:
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424:Paul Alvarado
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395:
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364:
363:Chicago Bears
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259:
255:
251:
250:Freedom Rides
247:
243:
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234:
229:
227:
223:
218:
217:Sara Paretsky
214:
213:
207:
205:
201:
190:
188:
183:
181:
180:Sara Paretsky
177:
176:short stories
173:
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80:
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69:Sara Paretsky
67:
63:
59:
58:
54:
50:
46:
45:V.I For Short
40:
35:
30:
22:
1025:
1016:
1005:. Retrieved
999:
990:
980:
975:
967:the original
960:
936:. Retrieved
926:
916:
911:
901:
890:
880:
869:. Retrieved
863:
828:
825:Sharon Gless
817:
814:Eleanor Bron
807:
801:
796:
783:
779:
778:
765:
759:
753:
745:
739:
733:
718:
710:
702:
694:
686:
678:
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654:
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638:
630:
624:Total Recall
622:
614:
606:
598:
590:
584:
578:
570:
562:
554:
546:
541:
533:Bibliography
525:
521:
515:
509:
503:
499:
493:
487:
481:
471:
465:
459:
453:
447:
441:
436:Sal Barthele
435:
429:
423:
418:
414:
403:
383:
379:
355:Chicago Cubs
340:
323:
305:
301:
297:
274:
230:
225:
210:
208:
196:
187:first person
184:
159:
155:
151:
147:
146:
84:Sharon Gless
75:Portrayed by
55:
44:
833:Buffy Davis
798:BBC Radio 4
775:Adaptations
585:Toxic Shock
526:Herald-Star
262:Vietnam War
237:steel mills
138:Nationality
86:(BBC Radio)
1040:Categories
1007:2013-12-30
938:2010-10-05
871:2010-10-04
839:References
696:Shell Game
680:Brush Back
592:Burn Marks
580:Blood Shot
277:law degree
222:retconning
212:Blood Shot
160:Warshawski
112:Occupation
65:Created by
742:in the UK
712:Overboard
704:Dead Land
664:Breakdown
656:Body Work
640:Fire Sale
632:Blacklist
616:Hard Time
587:in the UK
394:Holocaust
254:Louisiana
252:to rural
220:detailed
193:Biography
918:Deadlock
809:Deadlock
780:Deadlock
760:V.I. Ă— 2
755:V.I. Ă— 3
747:V.I. Ă— 2
720:Pay Dirt
648:Hardball
556:Deadlock
398:Cardinal
386:Viennese
367:football
361:and the
359:baseball
336:kielbasa
319:magazine
226:Pay Dirt
141:American
688:Fallout
373:is the
310:or her
204:Chicago
168:Chicago
823:stars
750:(2002)
723:(2024)
715:(2022)
707:(2020)
699:(2018)
691:(2017)
683:(2015)
675:(2013)
667:(2012)
659:(2010)
651:(2009)
643:(2005)
635:(2003)
627:(2001)
619:(1999)
611:(1994)
603:(1992)
595:(1990)
575:(1987)
567:(1985)
559:(1984)
551:(1982)
538:Novels
371:whisky
308:karate
130:Spouse
120:Family
107:Female
104:Gender
60:(1982)
1022:"BBC"
789:with
347:Anzio
331:arias
166:from
156:V. I.
96:Alias
806:and
343:WWII
270:pigs
174:and
365:in
357:in
272:".
154:" "
152:Vic
1042::
1024:.
998:.
959:.
947:^
889:.
862:.
847:^
835:.
321:.
189:.
182:.
158:"
1028:.
1010:.
941:.
895:.
874:.
821:,
787:,
762:)
150:"
23:.
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