Who is Anne’s best friend in Anne of Green Gables?

Diana Barry, who lives on the next farm, is Anne’s bosom friend. They promise to be faithful to each other for as long as the sun and moon shall endure.

Why did Diana’s mother stop the girls being friends?

Anne gave Diana currant wine by mistake, thinking it was raspberry cordial, and Diana went home unwell. Mrs. Barry decided Anne had done it on purpose, until Anne saved Diana’s baby sister from croup.

Is Diana Barry older than Anne?

The book does not give her exact age, but she is close to Anne’s age and they go to the same school. Anne first meets her when Anne is eleven.

From Anne of Green Gables

Diana Barry

Bosom friend • Sweet and loyal

Anne’s cheerful, loyal best friend, her “bosom friend” for life.

Who is Diana Barry?

Diana is a sweet girl with shiny black hair and rosy cheeks who lives on the Barry farm next door. She loves pretty ribbons, pretend games and Anne’s grand way of talking. Diana becomes Anne’s bosom friend, and she stays loyal through mix-ups, tears and adventures.

Diana Barry is a character in Anne of Green Gables, the 1908 novel by L. M. Montgomery, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.

What is Diana Barry like?

sweet
loyal
cheerful

Diana Barry’s story

Diana Barry lives at Orchard Slope, the farm next door to Green Gables, and she is the first girl Anne meets who could become her bosom friend. When Marilla sends Anne to the Barrys to ask a favor, Anne is nervous, but the two girls take to each other at once. They swear a friendship oath by the garden brook, and Diana is happy to play along with Anne’s dramatic games.

Their friendship is tested in a big way when Anne accidentally gives Diana several glasses of currant wine, thinking it is raspberry cordial. Diana’s mother believes Anne did it on purpose and forbids the girls to play together. They have to say a tearful goodbye, and Diana sends Anne a loving letter at school. The ban ends only after Anne helps Diana’s baby sister through a night of croup.

After that, Diana and Anne are nearly always together. They walk to school, form a story club, share secrets and visit Charlottetown. When Anne goes to Queen’s Academy, Diana stays home, but they stay close, and Diana is there for Anne’s joys and her grief, including when Matthew dies.

“I solemnly swear to be faithful to my bosom friend, Diana Barry, as long as the sun and moon shall endure.”

Anne Shirley, swearing a friendship oath. From the original 1908 novel by L. M. Montgomery.

A moment to remember

Holding hands over a wild rose bush, Diana and Anne promise to be best friends for as long as the sun and moon shine.

Anne Shirley: bosom friend
Minnie May Barry: little sister
Gilbert Blythe: schoolmate
Marilla Cuthbert: Anne’s guardian

Talk about it

Anne and Diana made a special friendship promise. What makes someone a really good friend?

Questions about Diana Barry

Who is Anne’s best friend in Anne of Green Gables?: Diana Barry, who lives on the next farm, is Anne’s bosom friend. They promise to be faithful to each other for as long as the sun and moon shall endure.
Why did Diana’s mother stop the girls being friends?: Anne gave Diana currant wine by mistake, thinking it was raspberry cordial, and Diana went home unwell. Mrs. Barry decided Anne had done it on purpose, until Anne saved Diana’s baby sister from croup.
Is Diana Barry older than Anne?: The book does not give her exact age, but she is close to Anne’s age and they go to the same school. Anne first meets her when Anne is eleven.