There is no Frigate like a Book

Emily Dickinson is almost as famous for her reclusive lifestyle as for her poetry. Though the extent of Dickinson’s reclusion is a matter of scholarly debate (see: Further Reading & Resources), many of her poems focus on domestic life. Part of Dickinson’s focus on the domestic sphere is likely the result of her taking care of her ailing mother. Dickinson’s father was largely unsuccessful in his many pursuits but was respected for his strong values. He was overprotective of his wife and children, and after his death, the family struggled financially due to being sheltered at home.

“There is no Frigate like a Book” engages with these struggles; books allow the poem’s speaker to be entertained and travel without leaving the protection of the home. The speaker also highlights how “frugal” (Line 7) imagined travel is compared to physical travel. The speaker’s use of the word “poor” (Line 5) might also refer to poor physical health, which is a common side-effect of isolation. The fact that one does not have to undertake a physical “[t]oll” (Line 6) to travel via poetry means that it is accessible to anyone fortunate enough to be literate.