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Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a memoir in the coming weeks titled Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts the period served in custody.

This news was made just 11 days following Sarkozy left prison as he contests his conviction on charges of illegal collaboration connected to efforts to acquire presidential race money provided by the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

Time in Custody: Personal Reflections

“In prison visibility is limited, and activities are scarce,” he writes in one passage, suggesting the account will focus on his musings from isolation as opposed to a broader observation regarding the strained and troubled correctional facilities in the country.

“Silence escapes me, which is missing at the prison, where one hears constant sound,” he states. “The racket unfortunately never stops. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world is fortified in prison.”

Court Appearance: Sharing the Struggle

While appealing for release, he had appeared by video link from inside the facility, describing his time inside as draining. He stated to the judge: “I must acknowledge to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who helped make this difficult experience manageable – as it truly is one.”

“It never crossed my mind at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal I must endure. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, deeply straining. It has an impact all who experience it because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as past president in the European Union and the first leader since WWII of France to be incarcerated.

Before entering jail he declared he intended to spend the period to compose an account.

Reading Material

It is not certain if he found the opportunity to review and analyze the three books he took into prison: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, a plot where a wrongfully accused individual ends up incarcerated later flees to exact retribution.

Prison Conditions

The former leader was held secluded to protect him in a cell of about nine sq metres with his own shower and toilet in the Paris jail in Paris. Security personnel stayed in an adjacent room.

Sources mentioned his diet consisted only yoghurts during his stay due to concerns prison cuisine could have been tampered with. Although he had access for self-catering yet he declined, according to reports. It is uncertain if the memoir includes what he ate in prison.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who saw him regularly daily while he was in prison, stated during proceedings security would be better out of prison compared to inside. “He received death threats, heard shouts at night and the urgent intervention in a neighbouring cell during an inmate’s self-injury.”

Case Background

His incarceration began on 21 October following the judiciary sentenced him to a half-decade term for illegal collaboration over a scheme to secure political donations for his 2007 presidential race.

He denies wrongdoing and is contesting the ruling, with a new trial planned for the coming spring.