An Unlikely Suggestion.

I was aware that Charlotte Bronte prevented the re-publication of Anne’s Tenant of Wildfell Hall after the latter’s death, but I never knew why. I just started digging on the internet and found this:

‘The reason for Charlotte Brontë’s suppression of Anne’s work is a question that has never been and most likely will never be answered. Was Charlotte’s motive to protect her sister Anne’s reputation, or was it simply to further her own and sister Emily’s literary careers?’

The second option raises two objections:

a) Why would Charlotte favour Emily’s interests over Anne’s in such a blatant and spiteful way? I’ve never come across any indication that there was any acrimony between Charlotte and Anne.

b) How could this have furthered sister Emily’s literary career? A person can only have a career while they’re alive, and Emily pre-deceased Anne by five months.