‘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.