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Nicolas Sarkozy will soon publish a personal account next month titled Notes from a Cell, detailing his experience spent in jail.

The announcement came less than two weeks after the ex-leader left prison while he contests the guilty verdict for unlawful coordination in a case to acquire presidential race money provided by the government of former Libyan leader.

Prison Experience: Inner Thoughts

“In prison one sees little, and activities are scarce,” he reflects in a preview, implying the memoir centers around his reflections during solitary confinement rather than extensive analysis regarding the packed and crisis-hit correctional facilities in the country.

“I forget silence, which is missing in La Santé, where noise is constant sound,” he states. “The racket persists relentlessly. However, akin to empty spaces, one’s inner world is strengthened behind bars.”

Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship

While appealing for release, the former leader had appeared via screen from a room in prison, depicting prison life as draining. He expressed in court: “I must acknowledge the correctional officers, who are exceptionally humane, easing this ordeal manageable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“It never crossed my mind that in my seventies, I’d be in prison. It’s an ordeal forced upon me. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It leaves a mark on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

Sarkozy, who served as France’s president between 2007 and 2012, set a precedent as ex-leader from the EU and the first leader since WWII from France to experience jail.

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

Books in Prison

It remains unclear whether he had time to read and critique the texts he brought with him: a biography of Jesus in two parts plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, in which a wrongfully accused individual is imprisoned but escapes to seek vengeance.

Life in Confinement

The former leader was placed in isolation to protect him in a space approximately nine square meters with his own shower and toilet at La Santé prison in Paris. Two bodyguards were stationed in a neighbouring cell.

Sources mentioned his diet consisted just yogurt during his stay worried that meals provided may have been contaminated. Although he had access to prepare his own meals but he turned this down, based on unnamed sources. Unclear remains if he will detail his dietary choices.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, Christophe Ingrain every day throughout the jail term, told the release hearing he would be safer released than inside. “He has faced threats against his life, listened to yells during nighttime and emergency responses in a neighbouring cell during an inmate’s self-injury.”

Case Background

His incarceration began on 21 October after the judiciary imposed five years in prison for criminal conspiracy related to a plan to obtain election financing for his 2007 presidential race.

He denies wrongdoing and is contesting the ruling, and a fresh trial is scheduled for the coming spring.