A native of
Fălticeni to a peasant family, Largely an
autodidact, he made his debut in writing in 1903, when his contribution was hosted by the leading traditionalist venue,
Sămănătorul. During those years, he published his first volumes, the
lyric poetry collection
Pe drumul pribegiei ("On the Path of Wanderers"), followed by the
short story volumes
Facerea lumiii ("The Origin of the World") and
La han la Trei ulcele ("At the Three Pitcher Inn"). I. Dragoslav's works made an impression on two rival literary men, Mihail Dragomirescu and Alexandru Macedonski. Also before 1910, Dragoslav began contributing to
Covorbiri Critice magazine and attending its club, which Dragomirescu was hosting at his Bucharest home. Previously a follower of the conservative literary society
Junimea, Dragomirescu had been directing his efforts toward assembling together some of his former colleagues, alongside writers from traditionalist and
neo-romantic groups like
Făt Frumos (
Emil Gârleanu,
Anastasie Mândru,
Corneliu Moldovanu and
D. Nanu among them), and more eclectic ones—
Panait Cerna,
Gheorghe Vâlsan, as well as Dragoslav himself. In addition to these authors, people who frequented Dragomirescu's circle before its 1910 disestablishment included Symbolist figures (Minulescu,
Dimitrie Anghel,
Al. T. Stamatiad) or writers of various other orientations (
Cincinat Pavelescu,
Liviu Rebreanu), joined by visual artists
Iosif Iser,
Costin Petrescu and
George Talaz. Călinescu also notes that, although he boasted a rustic lifestyle, Dragoslav's townhouse was "far from a miserable mud hut", and that Dragoslav raised ducks, geese and pigs. In 1910, he put out the collections
Novele ("Novellas") and
Povestiri alese ("Selected Stories"), followed in 1911 by
Povestea trăznetului ("The Story of Thunder"). That same year, the writer was among those who welcomed Macedonski back from his extended trip to France (itself caused by literary scandals). He viewed the event as an opportunity for restoring Macedonski's prestige, and, in a
Rampa article, stated: " 'Macedonski has arrived'; this word is on everyone's lips and sounds as if the man has risen from the dead." Together with Stamatiad and Mândru, Dragoslav was instrumental in bridging the gap between Macedonski's
Literatorul and
Convorbiri Literare, successfully urging Dragomirescu to give his colleague a positive review. His volumes followed each other in quick succession:
Flori și povești ("Flowers and Stories") in 1911;
Volintirii ("The Volunteers") and
Împăratul Rogojină ("Emperor Doormat") in 1912;
Povești de sărbători ("Holiday Stories") in 1913;
Povești de Crăciun ("Christmas Stories"), in 1914. However, as the Central Powers occupied the Romanian south and the
Romanian front drew close to Fălticeni, Dragoslav reportedly spend much time at the local high school, reading to wounded soldiers. During the early
interwar period, Dragoslav affiliated with
Eugen Lovinescu's
Sburătorul modernist club, and, in 1921, put out his definitive selection of novellas and
sketch stories. By the 1920s, he had fallen severely ill with a disease of the liver, argued by Călinescu to have been the result of
binge drinking. He was hospitalized for
ascites, and his
peritoneal cavity was drained of over 6
liters of bodily fluid. He was again hospitalized at the
Colțea Hospital, in the care of physician Ioan Nanu-Musceleanu, but died soon afterward in Fălticeni. ==Critical reception and legacy==