Decorah-area readers will have a chance to discuss Scandinavian literature from home this fall when Vesterheim hosts a free online Bokprat conversation about Henrik Ibsen’s 1884 play The Wild Duck. The Zoom discussion is scheduled for 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
There is no charge to attend, but participants must register in advance through Vesterheim’s event page. The registration page will provide the information needed to join the meeting, including access details for the 7 p.m. start.
How Decorah-area readers can join
Because the program is remote, attendees will not need to travel to Vesterheim or meet at the museum. The format allows people in the Decorah area to take part in the discussion from home.
Readers planning to attend should complete registration before the event date. Once registered, they can add the program to Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365 or Outlook Live.
Vesterheim advises registrants to revisit the event page before the discussion begins for the latest Zoom information. The same page should be used to register and obtain the meeting details.
What The Wild Duck examines
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 examines the relationship between an idealistic son and his corrupt merchant father, whose duplicity is revealed.
Werle’s attempt to rescue the people around him ultimately destroys those he hopes to help, pushing the family into a deeper unraveling. That collapse gives the play a focus on deception, betrayal and disillusionment in modern life.
The drama combines serious and comic elements, including comedy and satire. Vesterheim describes the work as realistic, while literary scholars have also connected it with symbolism. It is regarded as the first modern masterpiece in the tragicomedy genre, giving the Bokprat group several themes to explore, including family conflict and the mix of humor, satire and tragedy.
Part of Vesterheim’s Bokprat series
The October discussion is part of Vesterheim’s recurring Bokprat series, an online book group centered on Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. Its remote format lets local readers join conversations about Scandinavian literature without attending an in-person gathering at the museum.
Vesterheim announced the program in August 2026. Anyone interested in participating should register through the museum’s event page and check that page again before Wednesday, Oct. 28, for current Zoom access information.