The Cage is a novel written by local author Dan Billany, in collaboration with his friend David Dowie. Telling the story of two prisoners of war, the book was written while Dan and David themselves were prisoners of war in Italy during WWII.
About Dan Billany
Local author Dan Billany was born in Hull in 1913. He lived with his family in the Hessle Road area, and his dad was a tram conductor for Hull Corporation.
Dan attended Selby Street School but left without qualifications and soon took a job as an apprentice electrician. He later went on to gain a degree in English at the University College.
Dan Billany's writings
After university, Dan became a teacher. But he'd always dreamed of becoming a writer and would write at any given opportunity.
He wrote several novels with mixed success. Two of his books were published during his lifetime: a thriller titled The Opera House Murders, and The Magic Door, a book for boys. Dan also wrote The Trap, a fictionalised account of his early years. The book has since been described as "the finest novel to come out of the war".
Dan wrote other novels which remained unpublished during his lifetime. A Season of Calm Weather (1937) tells the story of a schoolteacher named Philip who falls in love with a younger boy. Another of his stories, Living Amongst Boys (1939) includes a similar plot. But it, too, was rejected by publishers.
Much of Dan’s writing mirrored his sexuality. But he may not have realised this himself until he fell in love.
Dan Billany and WWII
A year after the outbreak of World War II, Dan volunteered for the East Yorkshire Regiment. A decision that brought him both love and loss.
In 1942, Rommel's forces captured Dan in North Africa, and he spent the next 15 months as a prisoner of war in Italy. During this time, Dan developed a friendship with fellow prisoner of war, David Dowie. Together they wrote The Cage.
Due to social values at the time, it's no surprise that Dan initially tried to deny his attraction to David. He even tried setting him up with his sister. At that time, homosexuality was not only considered a perversion, it was illegal. So it was brave for Dan to confess his love for David. Alarmed, David shunned Dan, ending their friendship and leaving him heartbroken.
Dan wrote in his diary that when he returned to England he would “have to get married”, and that he had no desire to be a “spinster” nor upset his family. Fearing he had lost a friend forever, Dan wrote David a poem to explain his feelings. Their friendship was soon back on track.
After the war
In September 1943, Italy surrendered and Dan fled through the Italian countryside. He took with him the manuscripts for The Trap and The Cage, fleeing alongside David. While on the run, the men left the manuscripts with an Italian farmer named Dino Meletti. When the war ended, Dino posted the manuscripts to Dan’s family. Sadly, Dan did not live to see them published.
Dan and David were last seen heading toward the Apennine Mountains in search of allied forces. No-one is completely sure what happened to them after this. It's assumed they died on the mountains a few days later, together. Dan Billany was officially presumed dead in January 1944, aged just 30 years old.
