Diary of a Prisoner

For the first time, a former President of the French Republic recounts life behind bars.

In Diary of a Prisoner, Nicolas Sarkozy tells the deeply personal story of the weeks he spent in La Santé Prison while continuing to contest the conviction that led to his imprisonment. Blending a day-by-day prison journal with reflections on justice, politics, power, faith and resilience, he offers a rare glimpse into an experience almost no democratic leader has ever publicly described.

Far more than an account of incarceration, this is also the story of a man confronting the loss of freedom after decades at the summit of political life. Sarkozy reflects on the meaning of public service, the weight of personal conviction, the support of family and friends, and the human encounters that shaped his time in prison.

France’s bestselling political memoir of the year, Diary of a Prisoner is both an intimate testimony and a compelling reflection on one of the most controversial legal and political affairs in modern French history. It offers a unique perspective on justice, leadership and the resilience of those who face their darkest moments in the public eye.