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James Shapiro, the leading Shakespeare scholar whose books include 1599 and 1606, chooses one of the playwright’s smallest roles.

The First Servant in King Lear plays a crucial part, trying to defend his master Gloucester, whose eyes are being gouged out.

The extract is from the 1994 Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio King Lear, starring John Gielgud as Lear, with Richard Briers as Gloucester and Oliver Ford Davies as First Servant. Available on CD.