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The ex-president of France is preparing a memoir in the coming weeks titled A Prisoner’s Diary, which recounts the period served behind bars.

The announcement was made shortly following Sarkozy gained freedom while his appeal proceeds the court ruling for criminal conspiracy in a case to obtain presidential race money linked to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

Prison Experience: Inner Thoughts

“In prison visibility is limited, and nothing to do,” he reflects in a preview, indicating the book centers around his thoughts from seclusion instead of extensive analysis of the overcrowded and struggling correctional facilities in the country.

“Silence escapes me, not present in that facility, where one hears constant sound,” he states. “The din persists relentlessly. However, akin to empty spaces, one’s inner world is strengthened while incarcerated.”

Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal

During his plea for freedom, he was present via screen from his cell, characterizing his incarceration as exhausting. He expressed in court: “I wish to commend to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this ordeal bearable – as it truly is one.”

“I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I admit it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It affects one every inmate due to its intensity.”

Unprecedented Situation

Sarkozy, the ex-head of state for a five-year term, became the inaugural former head of an EU country and the first leader since WWII from France to serve time in prison.

Before entering jail he had said he would use his time to compose an account.

Reading Material

Unconfirmed is did he manage to read and critique the volumes he had in his cell: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the famous story, where a wrongfully accused individual is imprisoned later flees to exact retribution.

Daily Reality

Sarkozy remained in solitary confinement to protect him in a room approximately nine square meters including private facilities at La Santé prison located in the capital. Guards were stationed in an adjacent room.

Sources mentioned that he consumed just yogurt while inside due to concerns meals provided could have been tampered with. Although he had access to cook for himself but he turned this down, based on unnamed sources. Not known is if the memoir includes his dietary choices.

Legal Perspective

The legal representative, Christophe Ingrain daily throughout the jail term, informed the court he would be safer out of prison compared to inside. “There were death threats, heard shouts after dark plus rapid actions next door when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Legal Proceedings

His incarceration began in late October when a Paris court imposed a five-year sentence for illegal collaboration over a scheme to obtain election financing for his 2007 presidential race.

He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, with a new trial is scheduled for early next year.