Decorah-area readers will be able to discuss Henrik Ibsen’s 1884 play The Wild Duck from home this fall when Vesterheim brings its recurring Bokprat literary series online. The free program is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, and advance registration is required for Zoom access information.
The discussion will run from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time. There is no charge to attend, and participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim for the museum program. Instead, the online format allows readers in the Decorah area to join the literary conversation remotely.
How to register for Vesterheim’s Bokprat
Readers who want to participate should register through Vesterheim’s event page before the program date. The registration page will provide the information needed to join the Zoom meeting, including access details for the 7 p.m. start.
After registering, participants can add the event to Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365 or Outlook Live. Vesterheim advises registrants to return to the event page before the discussion begins for the latest Zoom information. The same page is intended to function as both the registration location and the source for meeting details.
What readers will explore
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 effort to rescue the people around him ultimately destroys those he hopes to help, sending the family toward a deeper unraveling. The resulting drama explores deception, betrayal and disillusionment in modern life.
The work combines serious and comic elements, including comedy and satire. Vesterheim describes the play 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 consider, including family conflict and the mixture of humor, satire and tragedy.
Part of a Scandinavian literature series
The October event 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 a way to discuss Scandinavian literature without attending an in-person gathering at the museum.
Vesterheim announced the program in August 2026. Anyone interested in joining should register through the museum’s event page and check that page again before Wednesday, Oct. 28, for current Zoom access information.