This volume investigates whether Napoleon Bonaparte acted as the legitimate successor to the ideals of the French Revolution or as its primary betrayer. David L. Dowd, a historian specializing in the French Revolutionary era, compiles a selection of primary source documents and contemporary interpretations to frame this debate. The text provides a structured analysis of Napoleon's policies, administrative reforms, and military actions to determine their alignment with revolutionary principles such as equality, liberty, and nationalism.

This work is frequently utilized in undergraduate history curricula as a foundational tool for teaching historiographical analysis. Experts note that the text remains a useful resource for students to engage with conflicting historical interpretations of the Napoleonic era.