Ukraine is situated between Russia and Central Europe. Having been subject to influence from both sides throughout its history, Ukraine has managed to maintain its own national identity that has produced a proud number of cultural exports to entertain the world.

Ukraine is the birthplace of one of Russian literature's absolute greats, Nikolai Gogol. Born in Sorochyntsi in 1809, Gogol would go on to write numerous novels and short stories that would establish him as a legendary literary figure known throughout the world.

Ivan Franko is one of Ukraine's heavyweights within its literary history. An explorer of Ukrainian identity in the 19th century he has been widely promoted not only in his own country, but indeed also abroad. Other more contemporary literary voices include Yuri Andrukhovych, Oksana Zabuzhko and quirky yet very entertaining writer Andrey Kurkov, who amongst other great novels wrote the highly entertaining Death and the Penguin.

Quirky yet very entertaining is also applicable to Jonathan Safran Foer's novel Everything Is Illuminated. Set in the Ukraine it was made into a film in 2005 it was directed by acclaimed actor-turned director Liev Schreiber and starred Hollywood actor Elijah Wood and Ukrainian-born musician Eugene Hutz.

Hutz is the eccentric leader of the American-based gypsy-band Gogol Bordello that has strong roots to Ukraine. The band has become increasingly more famous on the international underground scene over the last couple of years and the entire band can be seen in one scene in Everything Is Illuminated.