| Diana Barry | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Diana Barry |
|
First Appearance |
Anne of Green Gables (1908) |
|
Original Publisher |
L.C. Page & Co |
|
Created by |
Lucy Maud Montgomery |
Origin[]
Diana Barry is the best friend and a kindred spirit of Anne of Green Gables. They become best friends from the moment they meet. She is the only girl of Anne's age who lives close to Green Gables. Anne admires Diana for being pretty with black hair and flawless complexion and for her amiable disposition. Diana lacks Anne's vivid imagination but is a loyal friend.
Diana's father Mr. Barry is unseen save for late in the book when he drives Anne and Diana to Charlottetown and is a farmer. Near the end of the book, he offers to rent some tracts to help out Anne and Marilla, after Matthew's death.
Her mother, Mrs. Barry, is a strict parent. After Anne accidentally gets Diana drunk, Mrs. Barry forbids Diana to have anything to do with Anne. This sanction is repealed after Anne saves Diana's younger sister, Minnie May, who had become infected with croup.
Much to Anne's surprise, Diana said yes when Fred Wright asked her to marry him. During the course of Anne of Avonlea, the two were engaged. Anne was glad her bosom friend was happy, but secretly considered Fred far different from the dashing, handsome, and wicked ideal Diana had dreamed of in younger years.
In June 1886, Diana and Fred got married in Orchard Slope, Avonlea. She chose Anne for bridesmaid, and Gilbert was Fred's best man. Diana wore a beautiful white wedding gown, pink roses, and a misty veil.
Diana and Fred had together three children. In July 1887, she gave birth to her first child, Fred Jr. who was named after his father and was portly.
In December of the next year, her second child was born. She named her daughter Anne Cordelia after her childhood best friend Anne and her dream name behind it. Avonlea was shocked that she chose the name "Cordelia," as it was not in either of the Wright or Barry connections.
In late 1890, Diana gave birth to her youngest child and named him Jack.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Diana Barry from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Anne of Green Gables (1908)
- Anne of Avonlea (1909)
- Chronicles of Avonlea (1912)
- Anne of the Island (1915)
- Anne's House of Dreams (1917)
- Rainbow Valley (1919)
- Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920)
- Rilla of Ingleside (1921)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Anne of Green Gables (1919) (lost film)