Excerpt from a new book--can you guess who it's about?

Excerpt from a new book by Howard Jacobson, written in the form of a fairytale:

REVELATION

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea ...

And the beast which I saw was like unto a hyena; and his feet were as the feet of a clown; and his face was as the face of a spoiled child ...

And the people gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority ...

And they worshipped the beast, saying: Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking foolish things ...

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against truth ...

And it shall come to pass that all who dwell upon the earth shall wonder that they worshipped him ...

And they shall know that the beast came not out of the sea but their own hearts ...

And they shall fear that once let out, the beast will never be persuaded to go back in again.