Residents of Decorah and the surrounding area will be able to join Vesterheim’s Scandinavian literature series from home this fall as the museum presents an online discussion of Henrik Ibsen’s 1884 play The Wild Duck.
The free Bokprat program is scheduled for 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. Advance registration through Vesterheim’s event page is required.
How to join the Decorah-area discussion
After registering, participants can add the program to Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365 or Outlook Live. The museum’s event page will provide the information needed to enter the Zoom conversation.
Vesterheim advises attendees to return to the event page shortly before the 7 p.m. start because the access details may be updated. Participants should not rely only on information saved during registration.
The discussion will be entirely online, so attendees will not need to travel to Vesterheim’s museum in Decorah. People throughout the area can participate from home.
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 hidden truths. The play examines the relationship between an idealistic son and his corrupt merchant father.
As Werle tries to rescue the people around him, his father’s duplicity is revealed. That effort ultimately harms the people Werle hopes to help, pushing the family toward a deeper unraveling.
Those tensions give the Bokprat conversation several themes to consider, including deception, betrayal and disillusionment in modern life. The drama blends serious and comic elements, including comedy and satire. Vesterheim describes the work as realistic, while literary scholars have also connected it with symbolism.
The play is regarded as the first modern masterpiece in the tragicomedy genre. Participants may also discuss the family conflict and the way humor, satire and tragedy work together.
Part of Vesterheim’s Bokprat series
The October meeting is part of Bokprat, Vesterheim’s recurring online book group focused on Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. The museum announced the program in August 2026.
Anyone planning to attend should register through Vesterheim’s event page and revisit it before Wednesday, Oct. 28, for the latest Zoom access information.