Faces

''It must be a nuisance to go through life with a Father Christmas moustache like that, but no doubt the Schnauzer gets used to it.''In Faces, Vita Sackville-West traces the origins and history of forty-four dog breeds. She reflects on their characteristics with frank humour, from the gentle-eyed Afghan, ''like somebody''s elderly Aunt Lavinia, who nourishes a secret passion for the Vicar'', to the Labrador Retriever, ''dear, solid, faithful lump of a dog!'', and that ''docile minion'' the Corgi.Each profile is accompanied by Laelia Goehr''s striking black and white photographs. Together, profile and portrait capture these canine characters in their various moods: benevolent, haughty, amused, wistful, or simply a little bit sleepy.Charming and fascinating in equal measure, Faces is a joyful read for all dog lovers.