"As in the desert, in prison, inner life is strengthened." Nicolas Sarkozy will publish a book about his 20 days in prison.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, 70, will publish a book about his 20 days in La Santé prison. He announced the news on social media.

The politician's memoirs, titled "Diary of a Prisoner," will be published next month. Here's an excerpt, describing some of the hardships Sarkozy faced: "In prison, there's nothing to see and nothing to do. I forget the silence that's absent in La Santé prison, where so much can be heard. The noise, alas, never stops. But, as in the desert, in prison, inner life strengthens."

Nicolas previously admitted that he had a difficult time in captivity: "I never imagined that by the age of 70 I would end up in prison. This ordeal was forced upon me, and I survived it. It's hard, very hard. It leaves a mark on the soul of any prisoner, because it's grueling." Among the hardships Sarkozy faced was a forced diet: the politician refused prison food, fearing that it might be spat on or spiked.

It is noteworthy that the ex-president took three books with him to prison, including the novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," which tells the story of the revenge of an innocent man.

Sarkozy's 216-page memoir is now available for pre-order and will hit bookstore shelves on December 10.

As a reminder, on September 25, the court found the politician guilty of criminal conspiracy in the case of illegally financing his 2007 election campaign and sentenced him to five years in prison. However, Sarkozy was ultimately released by an appeals court ruling. He celebrated his release with his wife, Carla Bruni, at an expensive restaurant.

Фото: Dominique Charriau/Getty Images