Hardcover. Condition: good. Dust Jacket Condition: good. 1st Edition. The book is in good condition, owner inscriptions on the first page, black cloth boards, and bright gilt lettering on the spine of the book. Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived is a 1997 book by Ralph Helfer, an animal trainer and behaviorist known for his work with exotic animals. The book is a mix of biography, adventure, and historical narrative, telling the story of an extraordinary elephant named Modoc and her lifelong bond with a young boy named Bram Gunterstein.