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Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a book this autumn titled A Prisoner’s Diary, chronicling his experience endured behind bars.

The announcement emerged shortly following the ex-leader was released while he appeals his conviction related to illegal collaboration in a case to acquire presidential race money provided by the regime of the late Libyan dictator.

Prison Experience: Solitary Musings

“Inside jail one sees little, with little to occupy time,” he notes in one passage, suggesting the book will focus on his musings while in isolation instead of wider commentary of the strained and crisis-hit jail system in France.

“I forget silence, which doesn’t exist in that facility, where noise is a lot to hear,” he continues. “The noise unfortunately never stops. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world grows stronger in prison.”

Court Appearance: Recounting the Hardship

During his plea for freedom, he was present by video link from a room in prison, describing his time inside as gruelling. He stated to the judge: “I wish to commend those working in the jail, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this nightmare tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I never imagined that in my seventies, I would end up incarcerated. It’s an ordeal I must endure. I confess it’s hard, it’s very hard. It leaves a mark every inmate due to its intensity.”

First of Its Kind

The former president, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, was the first ex-leader in the European Union and the first leader since WWII of France to experience jail.

Ahead of his incarceration he declared he planned to utilize the opportunity to write a book.

Books in Prison

Unconfirmed is whether he had time to review and analyze the three books he brought with him: a biography of Jesus in two parts plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, where an innocent man ends up incarcerated later flees to seek vengeance.

Prison Conditions

He was placed in isolation due to safety concerns in a cell of about nine sq metres including private facilities in the Paris jail in the city. Two bodyguards occupied a neighbouring cell.

It was stated his diet consisted only yoghurts while inside due to concerns meals provided may have been contaminated. Options were available to prepare his own meals but he turned this down, according to reports. Not known is if he will detail what he ate in prison.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who visited his client daily throughout the jail term, told the release hearing his safety would improve outside jail than inside. “There were death threats, heard shouts during nighttime plus rapid actions in an adjacent room during an inmate’s self-injury.”

Charges and Sentence

He entered custody last month when the judiciary sentenced him to a half-decade term on conspiracy charges in connection with efforts to obtain political donations for his 2007 presidential race.

He disputes the charges and is contesting the ruling, and a fresh trial is scheduled for next spring.