An undisciplined pupil, he first worked as a proofreader with V. Battelli, then with G. Vieusseux; here he was able to educate himself and acquire a vast and varied culture. But it was R. Lambruschini who won him over to the constant apostolate on behalf of children, praising highly the writings he had been entrusted with and taking him on as a collaborator in the periodical *Guida dell'educatore*. In 1841 he became Superintendent of Studies; in 1848 director of the Pia Casa di Lavoro; in 1860 director of the first male teachers' training college established in Florence.
Enrolled in the *Giovine Italia*, he devoted himself entirely to the education of the people, following the Tuscan political movement. With the aim of replacing the almanac *Il Sesto Caio Baccelli*, which was rather sceptical, in 1832 he published *Il Nipote di Sesto Caio Baccelli*, a more serious and better suited work for educating the reader, which, after a difficult life, ceased in 1848, as did his *Giornale dei fanciulli*. Works that were very successful and long-lasting and effective in schools include: the two popular tales *Una madre* and *Le tessitore*, the *Racconti storici*, the *Racconti per i fanciulli* and the *Racconti per i giovinetti*; in these the fluency and clarity of the language, the spontaneity of the narrative, and the liveliness of feeling are blended into a serene calmness, which aims at a slow and sure reform of character. He paved the way for Collodi and De Amicis, but did not manage to avoid manifesting too openly the moral purpose and a somewhat overdone prolixity.