The Opened Cage is a story of enduring love between two men, Thomas Fielder and John Deerman who meet in the trenches of the First World War and struggle to face the physical and psychological effects of war. The men also face the threat of a dangerous sexual obsession from a third party which threatens to destroy their lives, as does Fielder's drive to find security in worldly success. A psychological breakdown plunges Fielder into a nightmare world which separates him from Deerman. Ultimately, this is a story of hope and explores how the characters learn to heal by re-engaging with the land and the natural world. It is also a timely examination of what happens when people, especially the young, are faced with continued physical and psychological stress in situations not of their making and over which they have no control.