Kipling's subsequent reputation has changed according to the political and social climate of the age[8][9] and the resulting contrasting views about him continued for much of the 20th century.[10][11] George Orwell saw Kipling as "a jingo imperialist", who was "morally insensitive and aesthetically disgusting".[12] Literary critic Douglas Kerr wrote: "[Kipling] is still an author who can inspire passionate disagreement and his place in literary and cultural history is far from settled. But as the age of the European empires recedes, he is recognised as an incomparable, if controversial, interpreter of how empire was experienced. That, and an increasing recognition of his extraordinary narrative gifts, make him a force to be reckoned with."

Zrovna ten Kipling třeba, než tohle napsal, on přišel o syna ve válce. Takových bylo hodně, ale v tomto případě je ukrutná ironie v tom, že toho kluka pro špatný zrak vůbec nechtěli vzít do armády — ale sám Kipling přes své známosti na ministerstvu války prosadil, aby jej přesto přijali...