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The ex-president of France will soon publish a book in the coming weeks titled Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling his experience served behind bars.

This news was made just 11 days after the former president gained freedom as his appeal proceeds his conviction for illegal collaboration in a case to acquire election campaign funds provided by the leadership of former Libyan leader.

Time in Custody: Personal Reflections

“Inside jail there is nothing to see, with little to occupy time,” he notes in an extract, implying the memoir is more about his reflections while in isolation as opposed to extensive analysis of the strained and struggling French prison system.

“Silence escapes me, which is missing at the prison, where noise is endless commotion,” he continues. “The din is alas constant. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world grows stronger behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle

While appealing for release, he participated remotely from a room in prison, depicting prison life as gruelling. He had told the court: “I wish to commend those working in the jail, showing great humanity, and who have made this ordeal tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“It never crossed my mind that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, deeply straining. It affects one every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

First of Its Kind

Sarkozy, the ex-head of state between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as former head from the EU and the first leader since WWII in the French Republic to serve time in prison.

Before entering jail he declared he planned to utilize the opportunity to compose an account.

Reading Material

It is not certain if he found the opportunity to review and analyze the texts he brought with him: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel The Count of Monte Cristo, in which a blameless person ends up incarcerated later flees to take revenge.

Prison Conditions

The former leader remained in isolation for his own security in a cell roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at La Santé prison located in the capital. Guards occupied a neighbouring cell.

Sources mentioned that he consumed solely dairy snacks in prison because he feared meals provided may have been contaminated. Although he had access for self-catering but refused this, based on unnamed sources. It is uncertain if the memoir includes what he ate in prison.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, Christophe Ingrain every day while he was in prison, stated during proceedings he would be safer out of prison than inside. “He received threats against his life, listened to yells during nighttime and the urgent intervention next door when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Charges and Sentence

He entered custody last month when a French court gave him a half-decade term for criminal conspiracy related to a plan to obtain election financing for his presidential bid.

He maintains his innocence and is contesting the ruling, and another court case is scheduled for early next year.