Noel Polk

Noel Earl Polk (1943–2012) was an American literary scholar, professor, critic, and poet, best known as a preeminent expert on William Faulkner's works, with significant contributions to textual editing and criticism of both Faulkner and Eudora Welty. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from Mississippi College and Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1970, taught for decades at universities including the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University, and co-edited authoritative editions of Faulkner's novels for the Library of America. Polk authored key books like Children of the Dark House: Text and Context in Faulkner and published poetry, including Walking Safari or, The Hippo Highway and Other Poems.