Decorah-area readers can join a free discussion of Henrik Ibsen’s The Wild Duck from home this fall, with Vesterheim scheduling the next online gathering in its Bokprat Scandinavian literature series for Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
The Zoom program will run from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time. There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is required through Vesterheim’s event page. That page will provide the information participants need to join the discussion, including access details for the 7 p.m. start.
How Decorah readers can join
Anyone planning to take part should register before Oct. 28. Once registered, attendees can add the program to Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365 or Outlook Live.
Vesterheim advises participants to return to the event page shortly before the discussion begins. The page is the source for the latest Zoom information, meaning the access details should be checked again before the program starts.
Because the event is online, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim. The remote format allows readers in the Decorah area to join from home while taking part in a conversation about Scandinavian literature.
What the Bokprat group will discuss
First published in 1884, The Wild Duck centers on 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 drama explores deception, betrayal and disillusionment in modern life.
The work blends serious and comic elements, including comedy and satire. Vesterheim describes it as realistic, while literary scholars have also connected the play with symbolism. It is regarded as the first modern masterpiece in the tragicomedy genre, giving the discussion several possible avenues, including family conflict and the combination of humor, satire and tragedy.
Part of Vesterheim’s Scandinavian literature series
The October discussion is part of Vesterheim’s recurring Bokprat series, an online book group focused on Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. Vesterheim announced the program in August 2026.
Readers interested in participating should register through the museum’s event page and revisit it before Wednesday, Oct. 28, for the current Zoom access information.