Talented novelist, Preda is born in Teleorman county, at Silistea-Gumesti, in the family of Tudor Calarasu. He finish the first 7 classes in this village, next he is pupil at the Normal School from Abrud, next at Cristuru-Odorhei and after that in Bucharest. The graduates the capacity exam but renounces at school. He is clerk at Institute for statistics, is press corrector at Timpul, were he debuts in 1942 with the short story Pârlitu. Encouraged, publishes prose and is remarked by Eugen Lovinescu at the Sburatorul literary club. His editorial debut is in 1948 with Întâlnirea din pamânturi. The young novelist pays his tribute to the socialist reality, as the majority of the writers from the "ploretarian dictature" (Desfasurarea s.o.)

His first masterpiece is Morometii (vol. I - 1955; vol. II - 1967), a film version was made after this novel.

He wrote also the novels: Risipitorii, Intrusul, Marele singuratic, Delirul, and his second masterpiece Cel mai iubit dintre pamânteni (1980), after which he was found dead, in his creation room from the Mogosoaia Palace. He died in a suspect way, in 1980, May 16, leaving many legends related to his passing away, taking into account that it was known for his cold attitude towards the authorities.