Biały Kruk Sp. z o.o.

Biały Kruk Sp. z o.o. is a Polish book publishing house founded in 1996 by Leszek Sosnowski. It is based in Kraków and operates as a private limited company (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością). The publisher is known for richly illustrated albums and books covering history, society, religion, politics and civilisation, and it maintains a strong Catholic and patriotic editorial profile. A defining part of its catalogue is the teaching and legacy of Pope John Paul II, with more than 90 albums and books devoted to him, including the 27-volume series "Dzieje Wielkiego Pontyfikatu Jana Pawła II" and editions of his poetry such as "Tryptyk rzymski. Poezje zebrane". The publisher also covers the pontificate of Benedict XVI and the life of the Church, including titles on sanctuaries, saints and biographies. Beyond religious subjects, Biały Kruk publishes books on Polish history and regions, European heritage, sport, encyclopedias and lexicons, poetry albums, and children's and youth literature. Its publications frequently appear in multiple language versions, including English, German, Italian, French, Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, Swedish and Bulgarian; the album "Auschwitz. Rezydencja śmierci" has the largest number of foreign-language editions (seven). The company also organises open-air exhibitions and produces documentary films. It collaborates with the Vatican Museums on the international project "Monumenta Vaticana Selecta", presenting the art of the Holy See, under which titles such as "Kaplica Sykstyńska na nowo odkryta" and "Rafael w Watykanie" have appeared. Its authors include Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Władysław Bartoszewski, Halina Birenbaum, Adam Bujak, Andrzej Nowak, Wojciech Roszkowski and many others. Biały Kruk has received numerous awards, including the Feniks award of the Stowarzyszenie Wydawców Katolickich, Book of the Year of the "Książki" literary magazine, the Totus Tuus award and the title of Publisher of the Decade 2001–2010. It also runs an online bookstore and a news portal at bialykruk.pl.

Biały Kruk Sp. z o.o. was founded in 1996 by Leszek Sosnowski as a Polish book publishing house. From its base in Kraków, it developed a catalogue centred on illustrated albums and books dealing with history, society, religion, politics and civilisation, with a pronounced Catholic and patriotic orientation. A major pillar of the publisher's output has been the teaching and legacy of Pope John Paul II. Biały Kruk has issued more than 90 albums and books devoted to him, including the 27-volume series "Dzieje Wielkiego Pontyfikatu Jana Pawła II", editions of his poetry such as "Tryptyk rzymski. Poezje zebrane", and titles such as "Promieniowanie świętości", "Karol Wojtyła. Przyjaciel, Kardynał, Papież", "Jan Paweł II. Syn tej ziemi", "Jan Paweł II. Dzień po dniu", "Pielgrzymki polskie", "Pielgrzymki światowe", "Wstańcie, chodźmy!" and "Znak, któremu sprzeciwiać się będą". The publisher has also covered the pontificate of Benedict XVI with titles such as "Kraina Benedykta XVI", "Z serca błogosławię" and "Kto wierzy, nigdy nie jest sam". Beyond papal subjects, Biały Kruk has built a broad list covering Poland and its regions (for example "Światowe dziedzictwo. Polska na Liście UNESCO", "Królewski Kraków", "Wawel. Katedra i zamek", "Warszawa. Stolica niezłomna", "Polska. Dom tysiącletniego narodu", "Mazury. Skarby przyrody i architektury", "Tatry. Cztery pory roku"), sanctuaries and Church life ("Niezłomni. Wspólne dzieje kardynała Wojtyły i Prymasa Tysiąclecia", "Lourdes. Stolica cudów", "Ars. Dzieje życia św. Jana Marii Vianneya", "Fatima z Janem Pawłem II", "Jasna Góra. Częstochowa", "Kalwaria", "Słowo Boże z Łagiewnik"), Europe ("Łaska pielgrzymowania. Santiago de Compostela", "Serce Litwy"), biographies ("Ksiądz Jerzy Popiełuszko. 1947-1984, walka, męczeństwo, pamięć", "Prawy i Sprawiedliwy Święty Ojciec Pio"), children's and youth books ("Opowiem ci o Jezusie", "Błogosławieni, czyli szczęśliwi", "Droga do Boga", "Św. Proboszcz z Ars"), encyclopedias and lexicons ("Encyklopedia kina", "Światowa encyklopedia filmu religijnego"), poetry albums ("Poezje zebrane – Tryptyk Rzymski", "Requiem dla Jana Pawła II", "Podróżne"), sport ("Wisła Kraków. Piękno i dramat sportu", "Małysz. Bogu dziękuję"), books on threats and martyrdom ("Mroki nienawiści. Męczeństwo chrześcijan XX wieku", "Opuszczeni bohaterowie Powstania Warszawskiego"), historical albums ("Chwała Grunwaldu", "Hołd Katyński", "Ojczyzna Ocalona") and thematic series such as the four-volume "Krzyż Polski" collection. It has also published textbooks, including the controversial "1945–1979. Historia i teraźniejszość". Many of the publisher's titles have appeared in multiple language versions, including English, German, Italian, French, Russian, Spanish, Hungarian, Swedish and Bulgarian. The album "Auschwitz. Rezydencja śmierci" holds the record within the catalogue with seven foreign-language editions. Biały Kruk is also active beyond book publishing. It organises open-air exhibitions, among them "Pielgrzymki polskie" (Adam Bujak, Poland, 2003–08), "Kraków Jana Pawła II" (Adam Bujak, Kraków 2007) and "Syn tej ziemi" (Adam Bujak, Ryszard Rzepecki, Warsaw 2009), and produces documentary films such as "Dar Bożego Miłosierdzia", "Przyjaciel Boga" and "Papież rodem z Bawarii". It collaborates with the Vatican Museums on the international project "Monumenta Vaticana Selecta", presenting the art of the Holy See; titles in this series include "Kaplica Sykstyńska na nowo odkryta" and "Rafael w Watykanie". Among the authors published by Biały Kruk are Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Władysław Bartoszewski, Halina Birenbaum, Adam Bujak, Waldemar Bzura, Bishop Antoni Długosz, Leszek Długosz, Tadeusz Lubelski, Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Arturo Mari, Cardinal Stanisław Nagy, Ryszard Rzepecki, Marek Skwarnicki, Jolanta Sosnowska, Leszek Sosnowski, Gabriel Turowski, Andrzej Nowak, Wojciech Roszkowski, Janusz Szewczak, Krzysztof Ożóg, Krzysztof Szczerski, Wojciech Polak, Jerzy Kłosiński, Jan Żaryn, Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, Czesław Ryszka and others. The publisher has received numerous distinctions. It won the Feniks award of the Stowarzyszenie Wydawców Katolickich in 1999 for album editions of Karol Wojtyła's poetry "Pieśń o Bogu ukrytym" and "Narodziny wyznawców" (category: most beautiful Catholic book), in 2004 for the album "Poezje zebrane. Tryptyk rzymski", and in 2011 a Special Feniks for "Dzieje wielkiego pontyfikatu...". It received Book of the Year awards from the "Książki" literary magazine in 2003 ("Encyklopedia kina"), 2005 ("Jan Paweł II dzień po dniu. Ilustrowane Kalendarium Wielkiego Pontyfikatu 1978-2005"), 2006 ("Kraina Benedykta XVI"), 2008 ("Kaplica Sykstyńska na nowo odkryta") and 2009 ("Ars. Dzieje życia św. Jana Marii Vianneya", category: albums). It also won the second prize ex aequo at the International Festival of Films Niepokalanów in Wrocław in 2003 (documentary category) for "Dar Bożego Miłosierdzia", the Lider Europy 2005 award from the Centre for Book Market Research (part of Biblioteka Analiz, publisher of the "Książki" magazine), the Lider Małopolski 2005 award from the Association of Małopolska Communes and Counties (ex aequo with ten other institutions and projects), the "Pro Bono Poloniae" medal in 2023, and the Totus Tuus award in 2011 together with the title of Publisher of the Decade 2001–2010 (category: promoting the teaching of Pope John Paul II). Today Biały Kruk continues to publish and sell books through its online bookstore and maintains a news portal at bialykruk.pl, where it also offers a newsletter discount and reports on current events.

• 2023

  Awarded the "Pro Bono Poloniae" medal.

• 2011

  Special Feniks for "Dzieje wielkiego pontyfikatu..."; Totus Tuus award and title of Publisher of the Decade 2001–2010.

• 2009

  Book of the Year for "Ars. Dzieje życia św. Jana Marii Vianneya" (albums category).

• 2008

  Book of the Year for "Kaplica Sykstyńska na nowo odkryta".

• 2006

  Book of the Year for "Kraina Benedykta XVI".

• 2005

  Book of the Year for "Jan Paweł II dzień po dniu"; Lider Europy 2005 and Lider Małopolski 2005 awards.

• 2004

  Feniks award for the album "Poezje zebrane. Tryptyk rzymski".

• 2003

  Book of the Year of "Książki" magazine for "Encyklopedia kina"; second prize at Niepokalanów film festival for "Dar Bożego Miłosierdzia".

• 1999

  Won Feniks award of the Stowarzyszenie Wydawców Katolickich for album editions of Karol Wojtyła's poetry.

• 1996

  Biały Kruk Sp. z o.o. founded by Leszek Sosnowski.

Catholic and patriotic publishing house specialising in high-quality illustrated albums and books on history, religion and civilisation, with a strong focus on John Paul II and Polish heritage.

• Dzieje Wielkiego Pontyfikatu Jana Pawła II

  27-volume series on the pontificate of John Paul II.

• Tryptyk rzymski. Poezje zebrane

  Album edition of Karol Wojtyła's poetry, Feniks award winner 2004.

• Auschwitz. Rezydencja śmierci

  Album with the largest number of foreign-language editions (7) in the catalogue.

• Kaplica Sykstyńska na nowo odkryta

  Part of the Monumenta Vaticana Selecta series with the Vatican Museums; Book of the Year 2008.

• Rafael w Watykanie

  Part of the Monumenta Vaticana Selecta series.

• Encyklopedia kina

  Encyclopedia; Book of the Year 2003.

• 1945–1979. Historia i teraźniejszość

  Controversial textbook.

1. 1Biały Kruk - książki, portal, sklepbialykruk.pl
2. 2Austriaccy historycy-blogerzy o Odsieczy Wiedeńskiejbialykruk.pl
3. 3Biały Kruk Sp. z o.o. – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Biały Kruk (wydawnictwo) – Wikipediapl.wikipedia.org