What is the view on Alexander von Humboldt in terms of colonialism and plagerism?

by Zaphodios

I've read Andrea Wulf's The Invention of Nature and I really enjoyed the book, as it is well written and is very informative. I was just wondering of its acuracy and if the book was sufficiently critical, especially in respect to eurocentrism and plagerism. So here are some follow-up questions:

  • Are accusations of Humboldt plagerising other peoples work valid? I've seen some accusation floating around but no real evidence.
  • Andrea Wulf paints a gernerally favourable view on Humboldt and some of his work is undoubtfuly critical of certain colonial institutions and slavery. But is he truely well regarded or even reveered in Latin America? Is Andrea Wulf's analysis of Alexander von Humboldt too soft on him?
  • How well is Andrea Wulf regarded by historians?
Big10inRecord

I found this link in a comment on a different thread about Wulf's book. It didn't address the specific questions you have asked, but it is an academic review of her book that offers extra details about the life of AVH and some criticism of Wulf's treatment (primarily that her chronology is difficult to follow and that she glosses over some periods of his life while greatly expanding on brief encounters such as his stop in the United States).