Decorah-area readers can join Vesterheim from home this fall for a free online discussion of Henrik Ibsen’s “The Wild Duck,” a drama about deception, betrayal and the consequences of exposing hidden truths. The Bokprat program is scheduled for 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
There is no charge to attend, but participants must register in advance through Vesterheim’s event page. That page contains the information needed to join the Zoom meeting, including access details for the 7 p.m. Central start.
How Decorah readers can participate
Readers who want to take part should complete the registration process before the event date. After registering, attendees can add the program to Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365 or Outlook Live, according to the event information.
Vesterheim’s event page provides the registration and joining information. Participants are encouraged to check the page again before the discussion begins for the latest Zoom details. Because the program is remote, readers will not need to travel to the museum or attend an in-person gathering.
What “The Wild Duck” explores
First published in 1884, “The Wild Duck” follows the Ekdal family after its fragile peace is disrupted by Gregers Werle, an idealist determined to expose concealed truths. The play also centers on an idealistic son who reveals the duplicity of his corrupt merchant father.
Werle’s effort to rescue the people around him ultimately destroys those he hopes to help. As the family’s circumstances unravel, Ibsen’s drama examines deception, betrayal and the disillusionment of modern life.
The work combines serious and comic elements through comedy and satire. Vesterheim describes the play as realistic, while literary scholars have also connected it with symbolism. The drama is regarded as the first modern masterpiece in the tragicomedy genre.
Part of Vesterheim’s Bokprat series
The October discussion is part of Vesterheim’s recurring Bokprat series, an online book group focused on Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. Its remote format gives local readers an opportunity to discuss Scandinavian literature without attending a gathering at the museum.
Vesterheim announced the program in August 2026. Readers interested in joining should register through the museum’s event page and review the page again before Wednesday, Oct. 28, for current Zoom access information.