Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived | 
| Author: Ralph Helfer
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $3.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  126 reviews
Sales Rank: 8423
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st HarperPerennial Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 1
ISBN: 0060929510
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.320929
EAN: 9780060929510
ASIN: 0060929510
Publication Date: October 1, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Pages are crisp, clean and tight. Cover has minor shelf wear. Ships DAILY from AZ with FREE USPS Delivery Conf.
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Amazon.com
Modoc is the joint biography of a man and an elephant born in a small German circus town on the same day in 1896. Bram was the son of an elephant trainer, Modoc the daughter of his prize performer. The boy and animal grew up devoted to each other. When the Wunderzircus was sold to an American, with no provision to take along the human staff, Bram stowed away on the ship to prevent being separated from his beloved Modoc. A shipwreck off the Indian coast and a sojourn with a maharajah were only the beginning of the pair's incredible adventures. They battled bandits, armed revolutionaries, cruel animal trainers, and greedy circus owners in their quest to stay together. They triumphed against the odds and thrilled American circus audiences with Modoc's dazzling solo performances, only to be torn apart with brutal suddenness, seemingly never to meet again. Hollywood animal trainer Ralph Helfer rescued Modoc from ill-treatment and learned her astonishing story when Bram rediscovered her at Helfer's company. His emotional retelling of this true-life adventure epic will make pulses race and bring tears to readers' eyes. --Wendy Smith
Product Description
Spanning several decades and three continents, Modoc is one of the most amazing true animal stories ever told. Raised together in a small German circus town, a boy and an elephant formed a bond that would last their entire lives, and would be tested time and again; through a near-fatal shipwreck in the Indian Ocean, an apprenticeship with the legendary Mahout elephant trainers in the Indian teak forests, and their eventual rise to circus stardom in 1940s New York City. Modoc is a captivating true story of loyalty, friendship, and high adventure, to be treasured by animal lovers everywhere.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 121 more reviews...
 VERY VERY GOOD May 1, 2008
I thought this book was one of the best I have read in a long time. If you enjoy stories that touch your heart and have a bit of excitement: This is a must read! Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful.
One of the best books I have ever read April 12, 2008
This is truly one of the best books I have ever read. Someone gave me this book as a gift and I was like, "OK. The True Story of the Greatest Elephant that Ever Lived? Sounds corny." But once I started reading, I could not stop. This book is amazing and is a story of true love and perseverence. I have now given this book as a gift multuple times, as it was originally given to me. This is a must read!!! Move up MOSIE!!!!
 I was enchanted...until I found out...it's probably not true March 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I fell hook, line and sinker for this book. I fell in love with the story, the elephant Modoc, the boy....even the author -- Ralph Helfer -- who becomes a character in his own book as the rescuer of "Modoc."
And as a true story -- I was spellbound. Why, this elephant had more character than most humans I know!
But that was when I thought it was a true story. If I had thought Modoc was a fictional account I would have been less enchanted. It would be a nice tale, but not well written enough to warrant my enchantment.
In doing my own research after the reading I came up with several sites and people who doubt Helfer's veracity. Moreover, I could find only one (audio) interview in which Helfer talks about the book -- but it's not with an interviewer who had ever read it! So no questions were asked about how much truth there was in this literally "fabulous" tale.
I'm afraid I have to say -- after reading people's blogs and comments and noticing discrepancies myself now that I don't think the story is true. I think it's a collage of Modoc stories and pictures (it turns out there were three elephants named Modoc in U.S. circus history.)
Helfer even says in the beginning that he takes truth, hearsay and a dash of some of this and thatand then combines it all to make his story. He even says he stretches the truth -- but we want to believe it so much -- we take it all as gospel.
So my recommend is -- until Helfer has a serious interview about the facts in Modoc -- unlikely since he spends most of his time in Africa -- that you read this book as fiction -- in which case, I'm sad to say, it's okay. Not great. Okay.
And now I know why there was such a commotion about A Million Little Pieces -- James Frey's book. When it's true the reader's heartstrings are tugged in a different way. Really "true" life is still what amazes us most. It makes a difference.
Great Books December 21, 2007
If you are not an Elephant lover you will be after your read this book and if you have an Elephant lover in your life buy them this book. It will make you cry and laugh.
The Greatest Love Story October 27, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this book because the photo on the front cover touched me deeply. Once I started it, I did not put it down until I finished. Alhtough I didn't always care for the writing style of the author, the story is so compelling, I highly recommend it to any animal lover. The 7+ decade relationship between a circus elephant and his trainer is the most amazing tale. Warning: you'll need a box of tissue.
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