The Cambridge Empire (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780645761801)

Faced with treachery and deceit, The Cambridge Empire is a gripping romantic drama about a family's challenges in wartime, inspired by a true story.

It's the mid-forties: a family stands to lose everything they have worked for, ruthlessness and deceit are in the wings as a cinema empire is born, a trap is laid, and the drama unfolds.

The Cambridge Empire is a romantic drama that follows the lives, trials and tribulations of a family who began a chain of cinemas when WWII was ending, and cinema was bringing new joy and hope to the people. It describes the rise to glory of the Cambridge family, who sold their failing farm after years of drought and hard times, to finally be wiped out by a bushfire. With the insurance money, Carleton Cambridge sets up a make-shift picture theatre in an old grain store in the growing community of Sunshine.

Although far from glamorous, the locals flocked to the new picture theatre. Carleton, or CC as he is fondly known, has great vision ... a new cinema on the current site, and two other cinemas nearby. With the war over, Seymour Cambridge, second son to Carleton, returns from the front line to take his place in the budding family empire. His sister, Cecilia, is being ensnared by the ruthless Godfrey Maxwell who is scheming with his father, Wilbur Maxwell, to oust the Cambridge family and take over the cinemas .

Hudson Cambridge, the elder son, is a brilliant engineer and artist. He works tirelessly in the cinema but is always outshone by his brother, whose head for figures is more favourable than Hudson's genius for the creative.

Jack Sotheby, General Manager, is determined to further himself while young Roger Rugliss struggles to overcome the ordeals he faces in his poverty stricken home life.

A gripping suspense, the story contains many captivating characters including Miss Wright-Smith - the person everyone loves to loathe. She seems hell-bent on getting CC to sign on the dotted line of marriage contract.

This riveting romantic drama takes us through the creation of the first grand cinema -the invidious plot that almost destroys it, near foreclosure by the bank and heartbreaking family setbacks.

Romance blooms and turmoil prevails as this cinema empire is born.