Internationally recognised pianist and composer Paul Drayton is set to release his debut novel, Ultramarine, on 28 October 2025. Described as “a complete and wonderful world which will surely delight the reader” by actor and historian John Nettles, the book transports readers to medieval England, where music, alchemy and betrayal collide.
Set against a golden medieval backdrop, Ultramarine follows the story of Oswin, the youngest of three brothers, whose rare musical gift and vivid imagination set him apart. Dreaming of escaping the hard life of farming, Oswin is sent to the city to be “cured” by alchemist and philosopher Jocelyn Lacey.
Under his tutelage, Oswin becomes an apprentice and, with his remarkable singing voice, joins the choir of a great abbey. But as he steps deeper into a world of commerce, hazardous experiments and social divisions, he faces a revelation at home that could alter the course of his family’s future.
James Henderson, Director of Music at Sherborne Abbey, commented: “Drayton understands atmosphere…”
Best known for his music, Paul Drayton has seen his compositions performed worldwide and praised for their “ingenuity” and “direct communication of human feeling.” Alongside solo recitals and concertos, he has also published Unheard Melodies, a light-hearted introduction to classical music for general readers.
Speaking about the inspiration for his first novel, Paul explained: “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.”
Published by The Book Guild, Ultramarine (ISBN: 9781835742952, £10.99) will be available in print from 28 October 2025.
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