Such is the swirl around the man, even as the work itself, at its best, is pure vocal grace, quiet humor, precise and calm observation.
She punctures her characters' pretensions and jadedness with an economy and effortless dialogue that writers have been trying to emulate for three decades, though few, if any, have matched her seamless combination of biting wit and mordant humor, precise irony and consummate cool.
Precise in speech, quick with humor, teller of outrageous puns, he was an avid reader of history, philosophy, and biography.
"On purpose, though," said Ms. Lipman, who has the writer's eye for precise detail and the same wry humor that infuses her novels.
The point is that the humor here isn't precise.
While Mr. Freundlich's scalpel throws off bright glints of humor, he and his cast are precise and unsparing from start to finish.
Jack is remembered for his warmth, humor and integrity, his inspiration to others, and precise approach to life.
Yet Mr. Woetzel's courtship of Ms. Borree had tenderness as well as deadpan humor, and his leaps and turns were militarily precise.
Sun's performance, her precise words and actions explore race, class and identity issues with humor and sensitivity.
The humor was pickled, but the work, like their footing, was precise.
