state of dissolution

Probably, she will (totally) break up/down.

---------
break up

to lose morale, composure, or resolution <likely to break up under enemy attack> <broke up when he heard the joke>


--------------

A bit bizarre - "a state of dissolution" is a roundabout way to say "dissolving." He is clearly saying his wife will be quite upset, perhaps even tearful; the phrase "dissolved into tears" is fairly common, as in "as soon as I offered her the flowers, she stopped screaming at me and dissolved into tears."

Hi,

I just hope that his wife is not dissolute, as the meaning of this is 'very lacking in morals'.

Clive

Oooh, I didn't even think about "dissolute"! Do you think the author intended a double meaning? From where is this passage taken--- would you mind telling us?

Hi,

"I must go home to my wife now, as she will be in state of dissolution, I am so late" He smiled, as if her state was more pleasant to anticipate than otherwise.

If this quote is accurately typed, it reads to me as if written by someone who is not a native speaker, so it's hard to know what they really mean. However, I find it highly unlikely that

Thanks everyone.

Yea, Clive. This sentence said by a hungarian man (in THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova) May be there are something wrong in his words because he's not native speaker. . And I'm not the native speaker too so it made me more dizzy. (please correct my words too, thanks

Ah. She's deliberately making his words sound florid and a bit nonsensical. Nice touch.

Are you enjoying the book? I hadn't heard of it, but I read a couple of reviews just now and it sounds like something my son would like. Too bad Christmas has come and gone.

Thanks, Delmobile. I enjoyed this book so much though it's very difficult for me to understand every sentence. But I can follow the story with fun. It's very interested for me more than Da Vinci Code. But not more than Lord of the Rings. It's so scare too , I dare not read it at night. (I've no crucifix in my house , I'm buddhism , but I hope some garlics in my kitchen could help. ) I try to re

Never thought about the Compassionate Buddha not being much help against vampires I suppose you will have to make do with a bas

Good advice . Thanks