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The ex-president of France will soon publish a personal account in the coming weeks titled Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts his experience endured in jail.

This news emerged less than two weeks following Sarkozy gained freedom as he contests the court ruling on charges of illegal collaboration in a case to secure presidential race money from the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

Time in Custody: Solitary Musings

“Inside jail there is nothing to see, and nothing to do,” he writes in a preview, implying the book will focus on his thoughts while in seclusion as opposed to wider commentary regarding the strained and crisis-hit French prison system.

“Silence escapes me, not present in that facility, where there is a lot to hear,” he continues. “The racket persists relentlessly. Yet, similar to barren lands, personal reflection is strengthened behind bars.”

Court Appearance: Describing the Ordeal

During his plea for freedom, he was present via screen from inside the facility, characterizing his incarceration as draining. He stated to the judge: “I want to pay tribute the correctional officers, showing great humanity, and who helped make this ordeal tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I never imagined that in my seventies, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial that has been imposed on me. I admit it’s difficult, extremely tough. It has an impact every inmate because it’s gruelling.”

Historical Context

Sarkozy, the ex-head of state for a five-year term, was the first past president of an EU country and the first postwar leader from France to serve time in prison.

Ahead of his incarceration he mentioned he planned to utilize the opportunity to compose an account.

Reading Material

It remains unclear whether he had time to read and critique the texts he brought with him: a two-volume biography of Jesus and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the classic tale, where an innocent man ends up incarcerated later flees to exact retribution.

Daily Reality

He was held secluded for his own security in a cell roughly 100 square feet featuring a personal bathroom at La Santé prison located in the capital. Two bodyguards occupied a neighbouring cell.

Reports indicated that he had eaten only yoghurts in prison because he feared any food could have been tampered with. Options were available to prepare his own meals yet he declined, based on unnamed sources. Not known is if he will detail his dietary choices.

Legal Perspective

The legal representative, who visited his client daily while he was in prison, told the release hearing security would be better outside jail than inside. “He has faced threats against his life, has heard screaming after dark and emergency responses in an adjacent room as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

Sarkozy went to prison last month after a Paris court sentenced him to five years in prison on conspiracy charges over a scheme to obtain political donations for his 2007 presidential race.

He disputes the charges and has appealed against the verdict, with a new trial planned for the coming spring.