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The ex-president of France will soon publish a book next month named A Prisoner’s Diary, which recounts the period spent in jail.

The revelation emerged shortly following Sarkozy gained freedom while he appeals the guilty verdict for illegal collaboration in a case to acquire presidential race money from the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.

Life Behind Bars: Personal Reflections

“In prison visibility is limited, and nothing to do,” he notes in one passage, indicating the memoir is more about his thoughts while in seclusion rather than extensive analysis of the packed and troubled French prison system.

“I forget silence, which is missing in La Santé, where noise is constant sound,” he continues. “The din persists relentlessly. However, akin to empty spaces, one’s inner world is strengthened behind bars.”

Court Appearance: Recounting the Hardship

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy was present by video link from his cell, depicting prison life as draining. He had told the court: “I wish to commend to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this difficult experience tolerable – as it truly is one.”

“It never crossed my mind that in my seventies, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s an ordeal I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It leaves a mark all who experience it due to its intensity.”

Unprecedented Situation

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as former head in the European Union and the first postwar leader of France to serve time in prison.

Prior to imprisonment he declared he would use his time for authoring a memoir.

Books in Prison

Unconfirmed is if he found the opportunity to go through the texts he brought with him: a two-volume biography of Jesus plus the novel by Dumas the famous story, in which a wrongfully accused individual ends up incarcerated but escapes to seek vengeance.

Prison Conditions

Sarkozy was placed in solitary confinement to protect him in a room approximately nine square meters including private facilities at the correctional facility in the city. Two bodyguards occupied the next cell.

Reports indicated his diet consisted only yoghurts during his stay due to concerns prison cuisine may have been contaminated. He had facilities to prepare his own meals but he turned this down, based on unnamed sources. Not known is if the memoir includes meals during incarceration.

Legal Perspective

His attorney, Christophe Ingrain every day during the incarceration, informed the court his safety would improve outside jail than inside. “He has faced menacing messages, listened to yells after dark and the urgent intervention in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Charges and Sentence

His incarceration began last month following a French court imposed a half-decade term for criminal conspiracy in connection with efforts to acquire political donations during his election campaign.

He denies wrongdoing and is contesting the ruling, and another court case planned for early next year.