Franco, an eminent Italian novelist, was born at Florence about 1335. The birth and influence of his family gave him a high standing in the republic. His whole life was engrossed with the duties of several important municipal offices. He was in succession one of the Council of Eight, and podesta at Bibbiena, at San Miniato, and at Faenza. Yet Sacchetti devoted his leisure hours to the composition of a series of excellent tales. The incidents which he chose were short and simple. His language was a model of classical purity. Many of his references to men and manners had an historical value. The whole series was executed with so much taste and skill that, next to the Decameron of Boccaccio, it was reckoned by critics the finest collection of tales in Italian literature. Sacchetti died about 1410. His tales were first printed by Bottari in 1724.