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Nicolas Sarkozy plans a book next month called Diary of a Prisoner, detailing his experience served in jail.

The announcement emerged shortly following Sarkozy was released while he appeals the guilty verdict on charges of criminal conspiracy regarding a scheme to secure presidential race money linked to the government of Muammar Gaddafi.

Time in Custody: Inner Thoughts

“Behind bars one sees little, with little to occupy time,” he writes in one passage, indicating the memoir will focus on his reflections while in isolation rather than wider commentary regarding the strained and troubled correctional facilities in the country.

“I forget silence, not present in that facility, where noise is endless commotion,” he states. “The racket unfortunately never stops. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world is fortified behind bars.”

Court Appearance: Describing the Ordeal

At his release request hearing, the former leader had appeared remotely from his cell, depicting prison life as exhausting. He had told the court: “I wish to commend to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who have made this ordeal tolerable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I never imagined that in my seventies, I’d find myself behind bars. It’s a hardship forced upon me. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, it’s very hard. It has an impact all who experience it as it’s exhausting.”

First of Its Kind

The former president, the ex-head of state for a five-year term, set a precedent as former head of an EU country and the first postwar leader of France to serve time in prison.

Ahead of his incarceration he had said he intended to spend the period for authoring a memoir.

Reading Material

It remains unclear if he found the opportunity to go through the three books he brought with him: a two-volume biography of Jesus plus the novel by Dumas the classic tale, in which a wrongfully accused individual ends up incarcerated then breaks out to seek vengeance.

Prison Conditions

He was placed in solitary confinement to protect him in a space roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at the correctional facility in the city. Guards were stationed in an adjacent room.

Reports indicated his diet consisted only yoghurts while inside due to concerns prison cuisine could have been tampered with. Options were available to cook for himself but refused this, according to reports. Not known is if the memoir includes meals during incarceration.

Lawyer’s Statements

His attorney, who visited his client daily throughout the jail term, stated during proceedings security would be better out of prison than inside. “There were threats against his life, has heard screaming during nighttime plus rapid actions next door as a detainee harmed themselves.”

Legal Proceedings

Sarkozy went to prison in late October following the judiciary sentenced him to a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy related to a plan to secure campaign funds for his 2007 presidential race.

He denies wrongdoing challenging the decision, with a new trial is scheduled for early next year.