Presently enjoying reading, The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II.
I had no idea Mark Twain was a war deserter. Early in the book the author writes that Twain, “famously deserted from both sides.” I understood “both sides” to mean he had at different times deserted from both the union and the confederate causes. Goggling around, I quickly found evidence (search for deserter) that he had in fact deserted a southern militia during the civil war after only two weeks of service, excusing it later in writing by saying he was unfit to be a soldier, but if he ever served in the union ranks and deserted there, too, I couldn’t find any evidence.
I agree with one review that the book is long-winded on the details of the experiences of the three deserters around who the story is told. But so far (~20% in) I like the book; I find it well written, relatively unbiased and non-judgmental with regard to deserters.