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The ex-president of France will soon publish a book in the coming weeks named Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts the period served in custody.

The announcement emerged just 11 days after Sarkozy left prison as he contests the guilty verdict on charges of criminal conspiracy connected to efforts to acquire political financing linked to the leadership of former Libyan leader.

Time in Custody: Personal Reflections

“Behind bars one sees little, and nothing to do,” he notes in a preview, indicating the account is more about his reflections during seclusion instead of wider commentary regarding the packed and troubled French prison system.

“Silence escapes me, not present in that facility, where one hears constant sound,” he adds. “The din persists relentlessly. However, akin to empty spaces, inner life grows stronger behind bars.”

Court Appearance: Sharing the Struggle

While appealing for release, Sarkozy had appeared remotely from inside the facility, characterizing his incarceration as exhausting. He stated to the judge: “I wish to commend to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this difficult experience bearable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I didn’t expect at this stage of life, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a hardship that has been imposed on me. I admit it’s difficult, deeply straining. It affects one on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

He, the ex-head of state for a five-year term, set a precedent as past president from the EU and the initial post-WWII figure from France to serve time in prison.

Before entering jail he declared he would use his time for authoring a memoir.

Cell Library

It remains unclear if he found the opportunity to go through the volumes he took into prison: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, a plot where an innocent man is sentenced to jail but escapes to take revenge.

Prison Conditions

He was held secluded due to safety concerns in a space approximately nine square meters featuring a personal bathroom at La Santé prison located in the capital. Guards occupied a neighbouring cell.

It was stated that he had eaten just yogurt in prison worried that meals provided could have been tampered with. Although he had access to cook for himself but refused this, according to reports. Unclear remains if the memoir includes what he ate in prison.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, who saw him regularly daily throughout the jail term, informed the court his safety would improve released rather than in custody. “He received death threats, heard shouts after dark and the urgent intervention next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

He entered custody on 21 October when a Paris court gave him a five-year sentence on conspiracy charges in connection with efforts to obtain election financing for his presidential bid.

He denies wrongdoing and is contesting the ruling, with a new trial planned for next spring.