A controversial new book examining the "secret life and lovers" of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is to be published in France this month.

Lawyers for French President Nicolas Sarkozy's third wife are said to be bracing themselves for the release of the work by Besma Lahouri. Security around the book is tight and the Paris publishers, Flammarion, have not even disclosed its title.

"It's a robust, anything-goes book which contains explosive revelations about everything from Carla's relationship with secret lovers to plastic surgeons," said a publishing source.

"The principal story is about a fast-living adventuress with an obsession with wealth and fame. Nobody from Carla's camp has assisted with anything. This is a proper, unbiased investigation into a world-famous former model, pop singer and first lady."

Lahouri, who made his name with a biography of French footballer Zinedine Zidane, is currently in hiding and security guards are said to be protecting his work, which is due out in about two weeks.

Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy famously declared that "monogamy bores me" just before marrying Mr Sarkozy two years ago.

She has had affairs with a string of high-profile men including the English rock stars Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.

A source at the Elysée Palace said any attacks on Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy, including in biographies, would be viewed "very seriously".

(Read by Lee Hannon. Lee Hannon is a journalist at the China Daily Web site.)

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(Agencies)