White Eagle, Black Madonna, whose author deserves highest praise, will certainly serve as an invaluable reference for scholars of Catholicism in Poland and the world.
The Polish Review
White Eagle, Black Madonna: One Thousand Years of the Polish Catholic Tradition provides a nuanced, balanced, and comprehensive look at the Polish Catholic past. Robert E. Alvis has written the ... Read morebest and most up-to-date English-language introduction to this vast subject, from its tenth-century beginnings up to and into the first decade or so of the twenty-first century... There is much rich detail and much to be learned from the book, both by those familiar with Polish history and by the uninitiated reader.
H-Net Reviews
Perhaps more than any other nation, Poland has been influenced throughout its history by its relationship to the Roman Catholic Church. For over a millennium, Poles have defined themselves in great part as members of this church. White Eagle, Black Madonna is the first work in English to examine this important religious-national nexus from its beginnings to the present day. Profoundly researched and written in an engaging manner, this book deserves a broad readership.
-Theodore Weeks
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
No scholar outside of Poland can match Robert Alvis' broad erudition about Polish Catholic history. This book offers a comprehensive overview of the Church's millennium in northeastern Europe, reflecting the most up-to-date research on a wide range of topics. Alvis doesn't shy away from controversial issues, but his presentation is consistently balanced and fair. For those interested in the history of the Catholic Church, this book will fill a significant gap by explaining the distinct characteristics of Polish religiosity. Specialists in Polish history, meanwhile, will gain a much richer understanding of the role of Christianity in Poland's past, which turns out to be much more nuanced and complex than we typically imagine.
-Brian Porter-Szucs
University of Michigan
Show Less