Her account of their break-up has been revealed in excerpts¹ of a book published by Paris Match magazine.

 

Photos of Mr Hollande's liaison² with Ms Gayet appeared in January.

 

Ms Trierweiler describes how she snapped after hearing about the affair and wanted to escape.

 

The president's break-up with Ms Trierweiler captivated France for weeks at the start of 2014 and such was the secrecy³ surrounding her book that it was printed in Germany.

 

Until now she has said little about how their relationship ended and the contents of her book, Thank You For This Moment, have been kept under wraps ahead of publication on Thursday. 

 

Even President Hollande only found out about it on Tuesday: he's said to be flabbergasted, the BBC's Hugh Schofield reports from Paris. 

 

"The Julie Gayet story is the top headline on the morning bulletins," her account in Paris Match begins.

 

"I crack up. I can't listen to that. I rush into the bathroom. I grab the little plastic bag which has sleeping pills in. Francois has followed me, he tries to snatch the bag. I run into the bedroom. 

 

"He snatches the bag which tears. Some pills spill on the ground. I reach out to pick some up, I swallow what I can. I want to sleep, I don't want to live through the coming hours. I want to escape, I lose consciousness."

 

After pictures were published by Closer magazine of Mr Hollande arriving at a flat for meetings with Ms Gayet, the first lady was admitted to hospital in Paris where she spent a week.

 

At the time, French media quoted a friend of Ms Trierweiler saying that she had taken "one pill too many" but denying she had tried to commit suicide.

 

She then continued her recuperation at the presidential residence at Versailles before the couple formally separated.

 

Ms Gayet, 42, successfully sued Closer magazine in March for breaching⁴ her privacy.

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