Image caption Publisher Jonathan Burnham says Knox will write "very thoughtful, reflective and serious book"

Amanda Knox, the young American cleared of murdering her British housemate Meredith Kercher in 2007 in the Italian city of Perugia, has signed a book deal with HarperCollins.

The book publisher said the 24-year-old will "give a full and unflinching account" of both her arrest and trial.

The deal is reportedly worth $4m (£2.5m) for world rights and is tentatively scheduled for early 2013.

Ms Knox was cleared in October of killing Miss Kercher, of south London.

An appeal court overturned her conviction and that of her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, who had also been found guilty of murder, after doubts were raised about the gathering of DNA evidence.

Italian prosecutors, however, have launched an appeal against the acquittals.

'Never before told'

Ms Knox was represented in the book deal negotiations by Washington DC-based lawyer Robert Barnett, whose clients have also included President Barack Obama and former President George W Bush.

Seven publishers who met Ms Knox submitted bids during a recent auction.

"Aided by journals she kept during her imprisonment, Knox will talk about her harrowing experience at the hands of the Italian police and later prison guards and inmates," HarperCollins publisher Jonathan Burnham said in a statement.

"She will reveal never before told details surrounding her case, and describe how she used her inner strength and strong family ties to cope with the most challenging time of her young life.''

Ms Knox, who served four years of a 26-year sentence, has not granted any interviews since returning to her hometown of Seattle, in Washington state.

The book will cover Ms Knox's life in Perugia before the murder, as well as her account of the events surrounding the murder.

Mr Burnham said that Ms Knox, who studied creative writing, would work with a collaborator.

The prosecution, which maintains Miss Kercher was killed in a brutal sex game which went wrong, is to appeal to Italy's highest court over the acquittals.

However, it appears unlikely that Ms Knox would be extradited back to Italy from the US.