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Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing a memoir next month called A Prisoner’s Diary, which recounts his time served behind bars.

This news emerged less than two weeks following Sarkozy was released while he appeals the court ruling on charges of illegal collaboration connected to efforts to acquire political financing provided by the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.

Life Behind Bars: Inner Thoughts

“In prison one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he writes in one passage, indicating the account centers around his reflections during solitary confinement instead of wider commentary regarding the packed and troubled jail system in France.

“Quiet is absent, which is missing in that facility, where noise is constant sound,” he adds. “The racket persists relentlessly. However, akin to empty spaces, inner life grows stronger while incarcerated.”

Court Appearance: Recounting the Hardship

At his release request hearing, the former leader had appeared by video link from his cell, describing his time inside as gruelling. He had told the court: “I want to pay tribute the correctional officers, displaying remarkable compassion, easing this ordeal tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“It never crossed my mind that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal forced upon me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, it’s very hard. It affects one every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

Historical Context

He, who served as France’s president for a five-year term, set a precedent as former head from the EU and the first leader since WWII from France to be incarcerated.

Before entering jail he declared he intended to spend the period to write a book.

Cell Library

It remains unclear if he found the opportunity to go through the three books he had in his cell: a life story of Jesus spanning two books and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the famous story, in which a blameless person ends up incarcerated then breaks out to take revenge.

Daily Reality

Sarkozy remained in isolation due to safety concerns in a room roughly 100 square feet with his own shower and toilet at the correctional facility in Paris. Security personnel occupied the next cell.

Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts during his stay worried that any food could have been tampered with. Options were available to cook for himself but refused this, based on unnamed sources. Not known is if he will detail what he ate in prison.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who saw him regularly every day throughout the jail term, told the release hearing he would be safer outside jail compared to inside. “He received death threats, has heard screaming after dark plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Case Background

He entered custody in late October after a French court sentenced him to five years in prison on conspiracy charges in connection with efforts to secure campaign funds for his 2007 presidential race.

He maintains his innocence and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial planned for next spring.