



Modoc
True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived
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4.7 • 133 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A unique relationship between an elephant and man is related in this captivating tale from Hollywood animal trainer Helfer (The Beauty of the Beasts). Born on the same day in 1896, Modoc the elephant and Bram Gunterstein became inseparable companions. Bram's father was an animal trainer for a small German circus. When the circus was sold, the boy stowed away on its ship, which sank during a storm in the Bay of Bengal. Modoc and Bram were among the few survivors. The pair made their way through rural India, working in the teak forests. Then the circus owner reappeared to claim Modoc and to take Bram on as the animal's trainer. In America, Modoc enjoyed huge success. Eventually she was sold behind Bram's back, however, and vanished. Nearly 20 years later, partners in a company that supplied trained animals for TV needed an elephant on the cheap. They found one on a farm in the Ozarks, a filthy, emaciated animal covered with cuts and bruises. Her name was Modoc. The elephant responded to treatment and surprised her new owners by performing circus tricks. In time, Bram found his way to Modoc for a joyful reunion. Helfer's telling, packed with reconstructed dialogue, seems fanciful at times, and he is vague about dates. Still, sentimentalists and animal lovers should flock to this story. Photos not seen by PW. Foreign rights sold in the U.K., Germany, France, Holland, Finland, Japan and Italy; dramatic rights: Richard Curtis.
Customer Reviews
Great book!
This book had everything drama, romance, and humor. Each chapter had me captivated, reading and visualizing the long life Modoc and Bram had lived together. I loved this story between the love, the joy and the hard times they experienced together.
Modoc
Very well written, total page turner. I have read this book three times and am now reading it to my grandchildren over FaceTime . Funny and emotional . Heartbreaking also. Stirs every sense in your body.
All time fav
I have loved this book for a very long time. Still my all time favorite. I also love Zamba too!