In the small cell of just eleven square meters Nicolas Sarkozy brought three books: the first two volumes of the Count of Monte Cristo and a biography of Jesus. The masterpiece of French literature by Alexandre Dumas, tells the story of Edmond Dantès, an honest and promising young sailor, unjustly accused and imprisoned in the Castle of If, off the coast of Marseille, from which he will escape in a daring and then take revenge on his traitors.
“Wait and hope!”, this is the moral of the book, contained in the last page and which fits with the former tenant of the Elysée, whose life – these are the words he released to the Figaro shortly before his incarceration – is like “a novel”.
The identification with Edmond Dantès and the reading about Jesus
Already in the past, claiming to be a victim of the judges, Sarkozy had defined himself as “an Edmond Dantès to the tenth power!”. As for the second volume, it is a rigorous and documented approach to the life of Christ.
Based on biblical texts, historical sources and recent research, author Jean-Christian Petitfils draws a human portrait of Jesus of Nazareth, outside the purely religious narrative. A reading choice that invites contemplation.
The conditions of detention in the Santé prison
Sarkozy, 70, also packed about ten photos of his loved ones in his small suitcase, starting with his wife Carla Bruni, his daughter Giulia and the other children from previous relationships.
He was placed in solitary confinement because the Santé prison has no other means to guarantee his safety. Obviously you will not have the right to a smartphone or mobile phone but you will be able to call your family with a landline (monitored) and have access to a radio and TV.
Since it is cold in the cell, he will be entitled to a scarf, but no longer than one metre. He will then have a stove to cook the food purchased from a special catalogue. According to Le Figaro, he was warned that the food in the canteen is inedible.
Routine and contacts with the outside world
He will be able to go out for an hour a day, in the internal courtyard of the penitentiary, accompanied by three guards and will have the right to two visits a week, including those of his wife and children, while he will be able to speak without limits with his lawyers (he has already seen them in the afternoon).
The project of writing a book about the experience in prison
Sarkò also wants to pass the time by writing, with the aim of publishing a book on his experience in prison, inspired by the letters from Devil’s Island by Captain Alfred Dreyfus or by the Count of Monte Cristo.