Born in Focșani, his father Ioan Ștefănescu was inspector general of the veterinary service; his mother was Speranța-Plautina (née Vasiliu).
Horia studied law at the University of Paris, graduating in 1909 and earning a doctorate in 1915; his thesis dealt with legal remedies for insurers faced with risk created by third parties to contracts.
From 1915, he practiced law at the Ilfov County bar, and then directed the theatre service of Radiodifuziunea Română from 1934 to 1948.
His work ran in Noi pagini literare, Flacăra, Cugetul românesc, Adevărul literar și artistic, Gândirea, Rampa, Viața literară, Revista Fundațiilor Regale and Mișcarea literară magazines; his humorous output was published in Papagalul and Gluma.
He left three plays in manuscript form: Nicolae Bălcescu, O seară la teatru and Băieți buni.