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Nicolas Sarkozy plans a personal account this autumn titled Diary of a Prisoner, chronicling his time spent behind bars.

The revelation was made just 11 days after the former president was released while he appeals the court ruling on charges of unlawful coordination regarding a scheme to obtain political financing provided by the regime of former Libyan leader.

Life Behind Bars: Inner Thoughts

“Inside jail visibility is limited, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in an extract, suggesting the book will focus on his thoughts while in isolation instead of extensive analysis of the overcrowded and troubled correctional facilities in the country.

“Silence escapes me, not present in that facility, where there is constant sound,” he states. “The noise persists relentlessly. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world is fortified while incarcerated.”

Freedom Plea: Describing the Ordeal

During his plea for freedom, he was present remotely from inside the facility, describing his time inside as gruelling. He expressed in court: “I wish to commend the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this ordeal bearable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I never imagined that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s a hardship forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It has an impact all who experience it as it’s exhausting.”

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 postwar leader of France to be incarcerated.

Ahead of his incarceration he had said he intended to spend the period to write a book.

Cell Library

It remains unclear did he manage to read and critique the texts he brought with him: a life story of Jesus spanning two books together with Dumas’s work the famous story, in which a blameless person is imprisoned then breaks out to seek vengeance.

Prison Conditions

He was placed in isolation for his own security in a cell of about nine sq metres featuring a personal bathroom at the correctional facility in the city. Guards stayed in the next cell.

Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts while inside due to concerns prison cuisine might have been spat on. Options were available to prepare his own meals but he turned this down, according to reports. Unclear remains whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.

Defense Viewpoint

The legal representative, who visited his client every day during the incarceration, informed the court his safety would improve out of prison compared to inside. “There were death threats, has heard screaming after dark and emergency responses next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

He entered custody last month following the judiciary imposed a half-decade term for criminal conspiracy over a scheme to acquire election financing during his election campaign.

He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, and another court case planned for early next year.