Mitchell Kaplan (English)

From an early age, Mitchell Kaplan was afforded the freedom to go explore life and discover possibilities. For him, finding an exact focal point for his passion for a literary life came in stages. It took from being and English major in Colorado where the Beat movement was experiencing a resurgence in the 1970s to fleeing law school to settle for becoming an English teacher back in his hometown – Miami to realize what he really wanted to do was start an independent bookstore. The rest – as they say is history. As his career as an independent bookseller progressed, Kaplan also became a principal in founding the Miami Book Fair and began bringing books to screens big and small. Today, it is no exaggeration to say that Kaplan has built a legacy that guarantees his place among those who have made Miami the city it is today. I spoke to Mitch Kaplan, not very long ago,  at one of his 5 Books & Books stores in Miami on a busy weekday morning.