Literatura intensive summer course: 10 June – 29 July 2025
Throughout its history, Ukrainian literature has struggled for its right to exist against larger powers, chief among which was the Russian Empire, later the USSR, and the Russian Federation as of 2025. Within the eight weeks of LITERATURA, we will discover key authors and look at their writing as not only artistic expression but acts of resistance. From Taras Shevchenko to Tamara Duda, Ukrainians write for the sake of perseverance as much as literature.
Our 8-week online course in Ukrainian literature will take you all the way from the Romantics to the avant-garde, introduce you to the modernists and the dissidents, and shed light on post-modernists and feminists alike, acquainting you with the rich literary scene of contemporary Ukraine.
The course is designed with no expectation of prior knowledge, yet even the more seasoned reader of Ukrainian literature will find plenty to ponder. Each seminar will be delivered by an expert in Ukrainian literature, including leading academics from Ukraine, the UK, and the US. All seminars will be held in English, and all texts will be made available to students enrolled on the course in English translation as well as the original.
A unique chance to learn with lecturers from the world’s best Ukrainian Studies programmes, including literature scholars from Ukraine.
▫ Course handbook and materials, including English translations of texts studied as part of the seminars.
▫ Discussions with lecturers and fellow students.
▫ Access to recorded video lectures.
Course coordinator: Olga Sydorushkina, Programme Curator, the Ukrainian Institute London.
The course will be held via Zoom.
Early bird discount available until 27 May.
Dates
8 weekly seminars: 10 June – 29 July 2025
18:30 – 20:00 (British Summer Time)
Fees
Full course: £260 general (£180 student) — includes a Certificate of completion, free admission to a supplementary online event TBA, and full course materials.
One seminar: £35 general (£25 student) — includes course materials and video recording for the seminar attended.
Friends and Benefactors of the Institute are also eligible for a discount.
Full course: £240 general (£170 student).
One seminar: £30 general (£20 student).
How to enrol
All are welcome to enrol for the 2025 Literatura summer course before 10 June 2025 by purchasing tickets to the full course or individual seminars.
Should you have any queries, please email us at [email protected]. We will aim to respond within five working days.
2025 course programme
10 June
Freedom’s liberator: Taras Shevchenko and the idea of modern Ukraine
Taras Shevchenko
Lecturer: Rory Finnin (University of Cambridge)
17 June
Ukrainian literature in dialogue
Ivan Franko and Sholem Aleichem
Lecturer: Uilleam Blacker (School of Slavonic and East-European Studies, UCL)
24 June
Ukrainian Modernism and Feminism
Lesia Ukrainka and Olha Kobylianska
Lecturer: Tamara Hundorova (National Academy of Science of Ukraine)
1 July
Ukrainian dissidents
Vasyl Stus, Vasyl Holoborodko, and Lina Kostenko
Lecturer: Bohdan Tokarskyi (Harvard University)
15 July
Ukraine at war: contemporary prose
Tamara Duda
Lecturer: Mariia Shuvalova (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
22 July
The poetic witness: Ukrainian women writing through independence and war
Natalka Bilotserkivets, Marianna Kiyanovska, Halyna Kruk, and Kateryna Kalytko
Lecturer: Iryna Starovoyt (Ukrainian Catholic University)
29 July
Russophone writing in Ukraine
Andrey Kurkov, Boris and Liudmila Khersonsky
Lecturer: Vitaly Chernetsky (University of Kansas)
2024 course programme
6 June
The cultural emergence of modern Ukraine
Ivan Kotliarevskyi and Taras Shevchenko
Lecturer: Rory Finnin (University of Cambridge)
13 June
Ukrainian modernism and feminism
Olha Kobylianska and Lesia Ukrainka
Lecturer: Tamara Hundorova (National Academy of Science of Ukraine)
20 June
Ukrainian dissidents
Vasyl Stus and Vasyl Holoborodko
Lecturer: Bohdan Tokarskyi (Harvard University)
4 July
Ukraine at war: contemporary prose
Lecturer: Mariia Shuvalova (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy)
11 July
Ukrainian literature in dialogue
Ivan Franko and Sholem Aleichem
Lecturer: Uilleam Blacker (School of Slavonic and East-European Studies, UCL)
18 July
Ukrainian poetry of independence
Natalka Bilotserkivets, Serhii Zhadan, Marianna Kiyanovska and Kateryna Kalytko
Lecturer: Iryna Starovoyt (Ukrainian Catholic University)
25 July
Russophone writing in Ukraine
Andrey Kurkov, Boris and Liudmila Khersonsky
Lecturer: Vitaly Chernetsky (University of Kansas)
2023 course programme
1 June
The cultural emergence of modern Ukraine
Ivan Kotliarevskyi and Taras Shevchenko
Lecturer: Rory Finnin (University of Cambridge)
8 June
Ukrainian modernism and feminism
Olha Kobylianska and Lesia Ukrainka
Lecturer: Tamara Hundorova (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine)
15 June
Ukrainian avant-garde
Les Kurbas and Mykola Kulish
Lecturer: Mayhill Fowler (Stetson University)
22 June
Ukrainian dissidents
Vasyl Stus and Vasyl Holoborodko
Lecturer: Bohdan Tokarskyi (Harvard University)
29 June
Ukraine at war: contemporary prose
Serhii Zhadan and Olena Stiazhkina
Lecturer: Sasha Dovzhyk (School of Slavonic and East-European Studies, UCL)
6 July
Ukrainian literature in dialogue
Ivan Franko and Sholem Aleichem
Lecturer: Uilleam Blacker (School of Slavonic and East-European Studies, UCL)
13 July
Ukrainian poetry of independence
Natalka Bilotserkivets, Serhii Zhadan, Marianna Kiyanovska and Kateryna Kalytko
Lecturer: Iryna Starovoyt (Ukrainian Catholic University)
20 July
Russophone writing in Ukraine
Andrey Kurkov, Boris and Liudmila Khersonsky
Lecturer: Vitaly Chernetsky (University of Kansas)
