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The ex-president of France will soon publish a personal account in the coming weeks named Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts his time served in jail.

The announcement emerged just 11 days after the former president gained freedom while he appeals the court ruling related to illegal collaboration regarding a scheme to secure political financing from the government of former Libyan leader.

Time in Custody: Solitary Musings

“Behind bars there is nothing to see, and nothing to do,” he writes in an extract, implying the account will focus on his musings from seclusion rather than wider commentary of the packed and struggling French prison system.

“I forget silence, not present at the prison, where noise is a lot to hear,” he states. “The noise persists relentlessly. But, just like the desert, inner life grows stronger while incarcerated.”

Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship

While appealing for release, the former leader was present by video link from his cell, characterizing his incarceration as exhausting. He stated to the judge: “I must acknowledge to all the prison staff, who are exceptionally humane, and who helped make this nightmare bearable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I didn’t expect that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal that has been imposed on me. I admit it’s difficult, it’s very hard. It affects one all who experience it due to its intensity.”

First of Its Kind

The former president, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, set a precedent as past president in the European Union and the first postwar leader of France to be incarcerated.

Ahead of his incarceration he had said he intended to spend the period to compose an account.

Books in Prison

It remains unclear whether he had time to review and analyze the texts he took into prison: a two-volume biography of Jesus plus the novel by Dumas the famous story, where an innocent man is sentenced to jail but escapes to seek vengeance.

Life in Confinement

Sarkozy remained secluded to protect him in a space approximately nine square meters including private facilities at the correctional facility in the city. Guards stayed in the next cell.

Sources mentioned that he had eaten only yoghurts in prison worried that meals provided may have been contaminated. Although he had access to prepare his own meals but he turned this down, as per accounts. It is uncertain if the memoir includes meals during incarceration.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain every day during the incarceration, stated during proceedings his safety would improve outside jail than inside. “There were menacing messages, listened to yells at night and the urgent intervention next door when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Case Background

His incarceration began last month when the judiciary imposed a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy in connection with efforts to obtain political donations for his 2007 presidential race.

He disputes the charges and has appealed against the verdict, and a fresh trial planned for next spring.