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The ex-president of France plans a memoir next month named Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts his time spent in jail.

The revelation emerged less than two weeks after Sarkozy gained freedom while he contests his conviction for unlawful coordination regarding a scheme to secure presidential race money from the leadership of former Libyan leader.

Prison Experience: Solitary Musings

“Inside jail there is nothing to see, and nothing to do,” he notes in one passage, indicating the memoir will focus on his thoughts during solitary confinement instead of wider commentary of the packed and struggling jail system in France.

“Silence escapes me, not present at the prison, where there is constant sound,” he adds. “The racket is alas constant. Yet, similar to barren lands, one’s inner world is fortified behind bars.”

Court Appearance: Sharing the Struggle

While appealing for release, he was present remotely from a room in prison, depicting prison life as gruelling. He stated to the judge: “I want to pay tribute those working in the jail, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this ordeal manageable – as it truly is one.”

“I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial I must endure. I admit it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It affects one every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

Historical Context

The former president, who led the nation from 2007 to 2012, became the inaugural former head in the European Union and the first postwar leader in the French Republic to experience jail.

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

Cell Library

It is not certain did he manage to read and critique the three books he had in his cell: a two-volume biography of Jesus and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the classic tale, where a wrongfully accused individual is imprisoned then breaks out to seek vengeance.

Daily Reality

The former leader was placed in solitary confinement due to safety concerns in a cell of about nine sq metres featuring a personal bathroom in the Paris jail located in the capital. Security personnel occupied a neighbouring cell.

Sources mentioned his diet consisted just yogurt while inside because he feared meals provided could have been tampered with. Although he had access to prepare his own meals but refused this, according to reports. Not known is whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.

Legal Perspective

The legal representative, who visited his client every day throughout the jail term, told the release hearing security would be better outside jail than inside. “He received menacing messages, has heard screaming after dark and emergency responses next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Charges and Sentence

His incarceration began last month after the judiciary sentenced him to five years in prison for illegal collaboration over a scheme to secure election financing for his 2007 presidential race.

He denies wrongdoing challenging the decision, and another court case set for next spring.