The Enchantment of the Long-haired Rat tells the story of a small Australian rodent known for its fast and prodigious spread after big rains: plagues for the European colonists who feared and loathed all rats; an abundance of food for the indigenous peoples who feasted with delight in these times of plenty. Tim Bonyhady's account - from the earliest evidence of it, found in caves and overhangs, to its most recent boom triggered by the immense rains across Australia of 2010 - 11 and current research of its mysterious life - presents a fascinating view of Australia's history, illuminating a species, a continent, its climate and its people.