The purpose of the Prix Charbonnier, to be given from time to time as appropriate at the Federation’s Annual Meeting and Convention, is to recognize persons of national stature and reputation whose vocation or avocation has promoted French language and culture in a manner consistent with the goals and purpose of the Federation.

The recipient need not be a member of an Alliance Française. A committee established by the Board of Directors of the Federation nominates the candidate for the Prix Charbonnier. In its early years, from 1991-1995, the prize was called le Prix de la Fédération. Since 1995, it’s been called le Prix Charbonnier, in honor of Daniel Charbonnier.

Mitchell Kaplan, a native of Miami Beach, opened the first Books & Books in 1982 in Coral Gables, Florida.  Now with four South Florida locations, Books & Books hosts over 400 events annually.  In addition, the original Coral Gables location is home to the well-established Café at Books & Books, and there are Books & Books affiliated stores at the Miami International Airport, and in Key West, where he collaborates with the noted author Judy Blume and her husband, George.

In 2023, Mitchell launched the Books & Books Literary Foundation to “nurture readers, cultivate community, and promote the free exchange of ideas.”

Among his honors, Mitchell served as president of the American Booksellers Association and received the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation.  Books & Books was also Publishers Weekly’s bookstore of the year. He now serves on the Board of the National Coalition Against Censorship.

As co-founder of the Miami Book Fair in 1985, Mitchell has served as the chairperson of its Board of Directors and continues to guide the programming team at the Fair on the campus of Miami Dade College in the heart of downtown Miami. Each year the Fair presents close to 500 authors over one week in November, along with a street festival, where bookstalls line the streets adjacent to the campus. Programs take place in Creole, Spanish and English, reflecting the diversity of Miami.

Mitchell, with his partner Paula Mazur, established The Mazur Kaplan Company to bring books to the screen, both film and television.  His most recent release is Let Him Go starring Diane Lane and Kevin Costner.

Mitchell also hosts the podcast The Literary Life with Mitchell Kaplan, broadcast from Miami, where he lives with his wife, Rachelle.  They have three children , Anya, Daniel and Jonah.

Mitchell Kaplan – Connections with France and the Francophone World

1. Champion of French Literature in the U.S.:
   As the founder of Books & Books, one of the most respected independent bookstores in the U.S., Mitchell Kaplan has consistently promoted French and Francophone literature, ensuring French authors are part of his curated selections and literary events. His bookstores regularly feature French titles—both in translation and in the original language—supporting France’s literary presence abroad.
2. Long Standing Collaboration with the Alliance Française and French Cultural Institutions:
   Kaplan has frequently collaborated with the Alliance Française chapters in South Florida and with the French Consulate in Miami on author talks, cultural events, and celebrations of French literature and language. He has hosted French authors and supported initiatives tied to “le Mois de la Francophonie” and other French cultural programming.
3. Miami Book Fair – A Platform for Francophone Voices:
   As co-founder of the Miami Book Fair, one of the most prominent literary festivals in the U.S., Kaplan has consistently opened the stage to French and Francophone writers, often in collaboration with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy. The fair has welcomed numerous authors from France and the Francophone world, strengthening France’s cultural diplomacy and soft power.
4. Promoter of International Literary Dialogue:
   Mitchell Kaplan is a firm believer in literature as a bridge between cultures. His commitment to international voices, including French authors, resonates with the French tradition of intellectual exchange, literary excellence, and cross-cultural dialogue.
5. Francophile Spirit:
   Kaplan has expressed admiration for French literary traditions and the intellectual legacy of France. His bookstores evoke the spirit of Parisian literary salons and independent bookshops, serving as community hubs for discussion, culture, and the celebration of ideas.

Past Prix Charbonnier Recipients