Hanna Mina, Syria's foremost novelist, was born in 1924 in Latakia, the only Syrian port on the Mediterranean. He is well-known for his depiction of the modern Syrian experience, particularly the life of sailors and the sea. He played an important role in founding the Syrian Writers Association and the Arab Writers Association. In 1990 he won the Uwais Award for his complete works, one of the most prestigious awards in the Arab world.