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Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a book next month called Diary of a Prisoner, detailing his experience served behind bars.

This news emerged just 11 days after the former president was released while his appeal proceeds the guilty verdict for unlawful coordination in a case to secure election campaign funds linked to the regime of the late Libyan dictator.

Prison Experience: Inner Thoughts

“In prison visibility is limited, and nothing to do,” he writes in an extract, suggesting the book will focus on his thoughts during isolation instead of a broader observation on the packed and struggling jail system in France.

“I forget silence, not present in that facility, where noise is constant sound,” he adds. “The din is alas constant. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world grows stronger in prison.”

Release Hearing: Describing the Ordeal

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy participated remotely from a room in prison, describing his time inside as gruelling. He expressed in court: “I must acknowledge to all the prison staff, showing great humanity, and who helped make this ordeal manageable – 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 admit it’s difficult, extremely tough. It has an impact all who experience it because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

The former president, the ex-head of state between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as past president from the EU and the first leader since WWII from France to be incarcerated.

Ahead of his incarceration he declared he planned to utilize the opportunity for authoring a memoir.

Reading Material

It is not certain whether he had time to go through the volumes he had in his cell: a life story of Jesus spanning two books and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the famous story, where a wrongfully accused individual is imprisoned but escapes to exact retribution.

Prison Conditions

The former leader was held in isolation due to safety concerns in a cell of about nine sq metres with his own shower and toilet at La Santé prison in the city. Guards were stationed in an adjacent room.

It was stated his diet consisted only yoghurts while inside because he feared any food might have been spat on. He had facilities to prepare his own meals but refused this, as per accounts. It is uncertain if he will detail his dietary choices.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain daily during the incarceration, informed the court security would be better outside jail rather than in custody. “He has faced threats against his life, has heard screaming after dark and emergency responses in an adjacent room as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Legal Proceedings

His incarceration began in late October after a Paris court gave him five years in prison on conspiracy charges in connection with efforts to obtain political donations for his 2007 presidential race.

He disputes the charges challenging the decision, and a fresh trial planned for early next year.