# Roy Gardner — Anne of the Island character guide

> Roy Gardner in Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Roy, Gardner

**First appearance:** 0027-xxv-enter-prince-charming

## Snapshot

The handsome, wealthy, flawlessly romantic suitor whose perfect courtship leaves Anne strangely cold and forces her to reckon with her own heart.

## Who they are

Roy Gardner is everything a storybook heroine could want: dark, velvety smiles, poetic compliments, a brilliant match approved by everyone from Mrs. Gardner to Aunt Jamesina. Yet his polished proposal, as beautifully worded as a courtship manual, meets only Anne's terrible coolness and a refusal she cannot fully explain. His bewildered hurt and dignified goodbye expose the gap between romance as it looks and love as it must actually feel.

## Relationships

### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/anne_shirley)

_romantic_

Roy Gardner is a wealthy, handsome suitor who courts Anne, but she ultimately rejects him due to his lack of intellectual depth.

### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/anne_shirley)

_romantic_

Roy Gardner is a wealthy, handsome suitor who courts Anne, but she ultimately rejects him due to his lack of intellectual depth.

### [Anne Shirley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/anne_shirley)

_romantic_

Roy Gardner is a wealthy, handsome suitor who courts Anne, but she ultimately rejects him due to his lack of intellectual depth.

## In the story

### [Enter Prince Charming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxv-enter-prince-charming)

Roy Gardner, a handsome and distinguished former Redmond student, rescues Anne in the rain and sends her roses afterward.

### [XXVI: Enter Christine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxvi-enter-christine)

Sends Anne white orchids and escorts her to the reception.

### [XXVII: Mutual Confidences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxvii-mutual-confidences)

Anne's ideal; sends her a sonnet and violets for her birthday, but lacks a sense of humor.

### [The Gardners’ Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxxvi-the-gardners-call)

Roy informs Anne of his family's intended visit and is mentioned as having told Dorothy about Anne.

### [False Dawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xxxviii-false-dawn)

Proposes to Anne in the pavilion and is rejected, feeling his life is ruined.

### [Love Takes Up the Glass of Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/chapters/xli-love-takes-up-the-glass-of-time)

Roy is referenced as the man Anne was rumored to be engaged to, but Phil's letter clarified there was nothing between them.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters/roy_gardner
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_the_island_se/characters