He was also the director of the National Theatre Bucharest, the President of the Writers' Union of Romania, and a titular member of the Romanian Academy.
During World War II, he was imprisoned for his opposition to the fascist government of Ion Antonescu (see Romania during World War II), and he spent time in the Târgu Jiu internment camp for political prisoners.
After the Communist regime was established, he was an elected titular member of the Romanian Academy and the President of the Writers' Union of Romania (1966–1974).
Other important novels are Șatra [ro] (The Gypsy Tribe), Jocul cu moartea (A Gamble with Death), and Pădurea nebună (The Mad Forest).
The latter two novels were made into films, Through the Ashes of the Empire and Pădurea nebună [ro].