He joined the faculty at the University of Nottingham as a lecturer in 1971, where he subsequently became Professor of Medieval English Literature.
He has conducted important research on the Wollaton Manuscripts, Piers Plowman and other significant pieces of historical literature.
[1] Turville-Petre formally retired from the University of Nottingham as Professor Emeritus on 31 August 2010, but has continued to teach there.
He is the author of award-winning scholarly papers, major monographs, and a recipient of large grants from Research Councils.
Medieval Alliterative Poetry (2010), a festschrift in honor of Turville-Petre, was published under the editorship of John A. Burrow and Hoyt N.