provide an overview of the source

The World of Wonders: A Record of Things Wonderful in Nature, Science, and Art is a book published in 1896 by Cassell and Company, Limited. The work aims to be a record of remarkable subjects, intended to inspire 'amaze And Admiration'. The copy of the book was digitized in 2015 by the Internet Archive.

The book is a compilation of short articles on a diverse array of topics, indicated by an extensive alphabetical index. The subjects covered can be broadly categorized:

• Natural Wonders: Articles describe phenomena and locations such as 'Niagara in Winter,' 'The Wonders of the Alps,' 'Earthquakes,' 'Geysers,' 'Glaciers,' 'The Sahara,' and 'Volcanic Eruptions'.
• Science and Engineering: The book explores scientific concepts and technological achievements, including 'The Atlantic Telegraph,' 'Calculating Machines,' 'The Wonders of Digestion,' 'The Mont Cenis Tunnel,' and 'Wonders of Photography'.
• Art and Construction: It features articles on significant man-made structures like 'The Alhambra,' 'The Coliseum,' 'The Great Pyramid,' 'The Leaning Tower of Pisa,' and 'The Porcelain Tower of Nankin'.
• Animal and Plant Life: The diversity of life is highlighted in entries such as 'Wonders of Ant Life,' 'The Dragon Tree of Orotava,' 'The Mammoth,' 'The Penguin,' and 'The Rice-Paper Plant'.
• Human and Historical Curiosities: The source includes accounts of remarkable people, historical events, and cultural practices, with articles on 'The Amazons of Dahomey,' 'The Man with the Iron Mask,' 'The Indian Fakirs,' 'The Bayeux Tapestry,' 'The real Queen of the Gipsies,' and 'Wonderful Highwaymen'.

Many of the articles are accompanied by illustrations, which are denoted in the index by an asterisk. The book also contains several full-page 'SEPARATE PLATES,' including 'Niagara in Winter,' 'The Pyramids,' 'The Court of Lions, Alhambra,' 'The Aurora Borealis,' and 'An Avalanche'.