Cornwall Pianist Paul Drayton to Release Debut Novel Ultramarine

Cornwall based pianist and composer Paul Drayton is set to release his debut novel Ultramarine, a story set in 14th Century England that blends music, alchemy and betrayal.

A Tale of Music and Secrets

The novel follows Oswin, the son of a farmer with a remarkable singing voice. Leaving home to become a chorister, he enters a world of music and discovery. But when a shocking family secret comes to light, Oswin is forced to choose between his past and an uncertain future.

Paul explains:

“The idea goes back to my first job, teaching music (and a little maths) in a choir school. This school educates choristers for the chapel of New College, Oxford, and has done so for about six hundred years. The music sung by these young choristers, together with adults, is of an astonishingly high standard, an unbroken tradition of music and liturgy that seems to me very precious. I saw at first hand how young people from all backgrounds could have their lives enriched and formed by this specialised training. The novel imagines what that same experience might have meant for someone born in the very distant past.”

From Music to Writing

Paul is a pianist and composer whose music has been performed worldwide and praised for its “ingenuity” and its “direct communication of human feeling.” Alongside performing solo recitals and concertos, he has written and lectured on a wide range of musical topics.

His previous publication, Unheard Melodies, is a light-hearted introduction to classical music for the non-specialist.

Publication Date

Ultramarine will be published by The Book Guild on 28th October 2025. It will be available to purchase at Waterstones, Amazon and other retailers