The main character of the book ( who goes by the author 's name and also by the name `` The Hero '' ) comes to Ukraine to look for a woman named Augustine , who saved his grandfather in the war . Safran Foer 's protagonist ( who goes by the author 's name and also by the name `` The Hero '' , or `` The Collector '' in the film version ) comes to Ukraine to look for a woman named Augustine , who saved his grandfather in the war .