Decorah-area readers will be able to explore Henrik Ibsen’s “The Wild Duck” from home this fall when Vesterheim hosts a free online Bokprat discussion of the 1884 play. The Zoom program is scheduled for 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is required. Participants must sign up through Vesterheim’s event page, which will provide the information needed to join the discussion, including access details for the 7 p.m. start.
How to register for Vesterheim’s Zoom discussion
Readers planning to participate should complete registration before Oct. 28. After registering, attendees 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. The page is the source for the latest Zoom information, so access details may need to be checked again shortly before the program.
Because the event is online, participants will not need to travel to the museum. The remote format allows readers in the Decorah area to take part from home while joining a discussion centered on Scandinavian literature.
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 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 toward a deeper unraveling. The drama considers 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 subjects for discussion, including family conflict and the combination of humor, satire and tragedy.
Part of Vesterheim’s Scandinavian literature series
The October program is part of Vesterheim’s recurring Bokprat series, an online book group focused on Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. Vesterheim announced the discussion in August 2026.
Readers interested in joining should use the museum’s event page to register and should revisit that page before Wednesday, Oct. 28, to find the current Zoom access information.