Ion Iovescu (August 6, 1912–August 9, 1977) was a Romanian prose writer.
Born in Spineni, Olt County, his parents were poor peasants. He attended high school in Slatina and ConstanÃÂa, followed by the literature and philosophy faculty of the University of Bucharest. Until 1968, he worked as a high school teacher, traveling salesman, clerk and librarian. From 1932 to 1936, he was a participant in the SburÃÂtorul circle. He made his published debut in 1934 in România LiterarÃÂ, then edited by Liviu Rebreanu. His first novel was the 1936 Nuntàcu bucluc, which came with an appreciative preface by Eugen Lovinescu, who called him "Muntenia's CreangÃÂ". Among his other books are O daravelàde proces (1941), Lacrimi pe pâine (1967), Soare cu dinÃÂi (1974) and Marea vâlvÃÂtaie, vol. I (1977). Publications that ran his work include SburÃÂtorul, Vremea, Revista FundaÃÂiilor Regale and ArgeÃÂ. His prose has a dialogue-like character that cultivates picturesque aspects of language and ethnography. Iovescu's setting is the slum-like village, where he brings stories to life, peppering them with his large fund of proverbs, which in fact form the basis for many of his tales. He died in Bughea de Jos, ArgeàCounty.