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, of London, Paris, and Melbourne. As its title suggests, the volume is a compilation of short articles detailing a wide array of marvels and curiosities. The book's purpose is encapsulated in a quote on its title page from Henry Kirke White: 'What does Philosophy impart to man But UNDISCOVERED WONDERS? ... She but extends the scope of wild amaze And Admiration'.

The content is organized alphabetically in an extensive index, covering a vast range of subjects. These topics are broadly categorized within the index itself, including:
* Wonders of Animal Life (e.g., 'Animal Life at Great Depths in the Sea,' 'The White Ant Family')
* Wonders of the Atmosphere (e.g., 'Aurora Borealis,' 'Spectres of the Air')
* Wonders of Construction (e.g., 'The Great Pyramid,' 'Britannia Bridge')
* Wonders of Engineering (e.g., 'Mont Cenis Tunnel')
* Wonders of the Mind (e.g., 'Wonderful Memory of Cardinal Mezzo-fanti')
* Wonders of Vegetation (e.g., 'The Banyan Tree,' 'Freaks of Vegetation')

The articles explore a diverse collection of phenomena, historical events, and curiosities. A sampling of titles from the index reveals the book's eclectic nature, with entries such as 'Alchemy,' 'The 'Aye-Aye' and Its Middle-Finger,' 'Beating the Bounds,' 'The Book-Fish,' 'The Flying Dutchman,' 'The Man with the Iron Mask,' 'Pharaoh's Magic Serpents,' and 'A Ride on the Wind'.

Many of the articles are accompanied by illustrations, which are denoted in the index by an asterisk. The book also contains several full-page plates, including 'Niagara in Winter,' 'The Giant Geyser,' 'The Court of Lions, Alhambra,' and 'Laying the Atlantic Cable'.

The writing style is characteristic of the late 19th century, aiming to evoke a sense of wonder and admiration in the reader. For example, the opening article, 'Niagara in Winter,' begins: 'Since the eye of the pale-faced European was first kindled into admiration by the spectacle presented at Niagara, the pen has scarce ever ceased to describe, or at least to attempt to describe, the overwhelming power, the profound grandeur, and the wild beauty that have united to make the Falls of Niagara perhaps the most celebrated scene on the face of the globe'. The book was digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015.