Its geography was ideal and the rum lords made New Brunswick the smugglers' capital of North America. When the liquor tankers known as Rum Row disappeared, big-timers ran into Shediac, Buctouche, and Bay Chaleur more liquor than in all other provinces combined — and almost as much ran out again to quench a thirsty America. One body of outmoded Federal law controlled the making, the carrying, and the sale of liquor in Canada; and here, as elsewhere, another body of useless law tried to control its use. On Ottawa's side were Customs Officers, awkwardly managed and sometimes corrupt, while in Fredericton was a corps of liquor inspectors so incompetent that law-breakers laughed. And soon the Provincial Police force collapsed in disrepute. When the booze-laden cars roared through the night, there was almost nothing to stop them. Crime flourished and Prohibition gang-wars became public entertainment. When Rum was King chronicles this period in all its richness. This was a time when the Premier of New Brunswick was part owner of a rum-running ship and a United Church minister became boss of the province's liquor stores.

B.J. Grant was a reporter and worked at the University of New Brunswick Library as well as being the author of several books including Six for the Hangman, When Rum was King, and Fit to Print.

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