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The ex-president of France is preparing a memoir this autumn called Notes from a Cell, detailing his time served in jail.

This news was made just 11 days following Sarkozy gained freedom while his appeal proceeds the guilty verdict for unlawful coordination regarding a scheme to secure election campaign funds provided by the leadership of the late Libyan dictator.

Time in Custody: Solitary Musings

“Inside jail visibility is limited, with little to occupy time,” he writes in a preview, indicating the account will focus on his thoughts during solitary confinement as opposed to a broader observation of the packed and crisis-hit correctional facilities in the country.

“Silence escapes me, which is missing at the prison, where there is constant sound,” he continues. “The noise unfortunately never stops. But, just like the desert, one’s inner world is fortified while incarcerated.”

Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy had appeared remotely from a room in prison, depicting prison life as gruelling. He had told the court: “I must acknowledge the correctional officers, displaying remarkable compassion, and who helped make this difficult experience manageable – because it is a nightmare.”

“It never crossed my mind that at 70 years of age, I’d be in prison. It’s a trial I must endure. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, extremely tough. It has an impact all who experience it because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

The former president, the ex-head of state from 2007 to 2012, was the first former head from the EU and the first leader since WWII from France to be incarcerated.

Prior to imprisonment he mentioned he planned to utilize the opportunity for authoring a memoir.

Books in Prison

It is not certain whether he had time to read and critique the three books he took into prison: a life story of Jesus spanning two books plus the novel by Dumas the famous story, in which a blameless person is imprisoned but escapes to exact retribution.

Life in Confinement

The former leader remained secluded to protect him in a cell roughly 100 square feet featuring a personal bathroom at the correctional facility in Paris. Security personnel occupied the next cell.

It was stated that he had eaten solely dairy snacks while inside due to concerns prison cuisine might have been spat on. He had facilities for self-catering but he turned this down, as per accounts. Not known is if the memoir includes his dietary choices.

Lawyer’s Statements

The legal representative, who saw him regularly each day while he was in prison, stated during proceedings he would be safer released than inside. “He received threats against his life, listened to yells after dark and emergency responses in an adjacent room when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Case Background

He entered custody in late October after a French court imposed a half-decade term on conspiracy charges over a scheme to obtain election financing for his presidential bid.

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