French readers lap up Sarkozy’s prison diaries

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy may be facing mounting legal troubles, but his appeal as an author appears undiminished. His hastily written book about his recent time in prison has sold nearly 100,000 copies in less than a week, according to his publisher.

The 70-year-old has turned his three-week stint behind bars in October–November into a 216-page book titled Diary of a Prisoner (Le journal d’un prisonnier). Since its release, Sarkozy has been touring France, greeting enthusiastic supporters.

“Diary of a Prisoner sold 98,610 copies in just a few days after its arrival in bookstores — a phenomenal number one,” publisher Fayard announced on social media platform X, citing figures from market research firm NielsenIQ GfK.

The book describes Sarkozy’s everyday struggles in prison, including noise and poor-quality food, but it has also attracted attention for its political undertones. In particular, Sarkozy recounts a conversation with far-right leader Marine Le Pen and suggests the possibility of an alliance between the traditional right and her anti-immigration party.

“The path to rebuilding the right can only happen with the broadest possible spirit of unity, without exclusion and without anathema,” he writes.

In September, Sarkozy was found guilty of seeking illegal campaign funding from former Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi during his successful 2007 presidential bid. He was sentenced to five years in prison but was released from Paris’s La Santé prison after just 20 days, following a judge’s decision to grant conditional release.

Sarkozy has also been convicted in two other cases — one involving illegal campaign financing and another related to corruption and influence-peddling. He and his wife, singer Carla Bruni, could face another trial over allegations that they attempted to bribe a key prosecution witness in the Libya financing case with the help of a paparazzi boss. Both deny any wrongdoing.

Since leaving office after a single term, Sarkozy has remained an influential behind-the-scenes figure on the French right and a prolific author. His recent books include The Age of Combat (2023), The Age of Storms (2020) and Passions (2019).