Uncover the captivating legend of the extinct giant eagle of New Zealand, a blend of history, memoir, science, and mythology. Peter Walker journeys from a Canterbury sheep run to the British Library's Rare Books Room and Polynesia's 'sacred' Raiatea, revealing the story of the predator that once dominated the Southern Alps. Was this bird, confirmed by scientists only in 2009, the Rukh of Arab legends? Did medieval Islamic mariners venture into the Pacific, encounter the great raptor, and return home with tales of its existence? From the calamitous clash of South Island Maori with colonisation to the glories of tenth-century Baghdad, Hard by the Cloud House weaves a heady mix of history, memoir, science, and mythology. Perfect for readers interested in New Zealand history, Maori legends, and the intersection of myth and scientific discovery.