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The ex-president of France will soon publish a memoir in the coming weeks called Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling the period spent in jail.

The revelation emerged less than two weeks after Sarkozy was released while his appeal proceeds his conviction related to criminal conspiracy connected to efforts to acquire presidential race money from the regime of former Libyan leader.

Life Behind Bars: Solitary Musings

“Behind bars one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in an extract, suggesting the book is more about his musings during solitary confinement as opposed to extensive analysis of the packed and troubled correctional facilities in the country.

“Quiet is absent, which is missing at the prison, where noise is endless commotion,” he continues. “The noise unfortunately never stops. However, akin to empty spaces, one’s inner world is fortified while incarcerated.”

Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship

While appealing for release, Sarkozy had appeared by video link from his cell, describing his time inside as exhausting. He had told the court: “I want to pay tribute those working in the jail, showing great humanity, easing this nightmare tolerable – as it truly is one.”

“It never crossed my mind that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s an ordeal I must endure. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It has an impact all who experience it because it’s gruelling.”

Unprecedented Situation

The former president, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, was the first ex-leader in the European Union and the first postwar leader in the French Republic to serve time in prison.

Prior to imprisonment he had said he intended to spend the period for authoring a memoir.

Reading Material

It is not certain whether he had time to go through the texts he had in his cell: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, in which a blameless person ends up incarcerated then breaks out to exact retribution.

Daily Reality

Sarkozy was placed in solitary confinement to protect him in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at La Santé prison in Paris. Guards were stationed in an adjacent room.

It was stated that he had eaten only yoghurts during his stay worried that prison cuisine might have been spat on. He had facilities to prepare his own meals but refused this, based on unnamed sources. It is uncertain whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who visited his client daily during the incarceration, told the release hearing he would be safer outside jail compared to inside. “There were death threats, listened to yells during nighttime plus rapid actions in a neighbouring cell when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Charges and Sentence

His incarceration began on 21 October after the judiciary gave him a half-decade term on conspiracy charges in connection with efforts to acquire election financing during his election campaign.

He disputes the charges challenging the decision, and another court case planned for next spring.