The winning of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1945 did not assuage the loss by suicide of her nephew, adopted and raised as her son, and of her good friends Stefan Zweig and his wife. Her last book, Wine Press (Lagar), in 1954, dealt with most of the subjects previously treated but in a different manner. It was much happier in tone, containing among other themes American scenes, "lullabies" for children, and a metaphysical acceptance of death - all written in a much more polished style than that of the works previously noted. Fourteen years passed before the next, Felling (Tala), appeared. Two years later her second book, Tenderness (Ternura), appeared it contained some of the poems from Desolation and several new ones. Thus, her international reputation was established.
Motherhood, religion, nature, morality, and love of children are present with an overriding theme of personal sorrow. In 1922 Gabriela Mistral's first book, Desolation (Desolación), a collection of poems previously published in newspapers and magazines, was released through the efforts of Federico de Onís, Director of the Hispanic Institute of New York.
The suicide in 1909 of her first love occasioned the poem, and shortly afterward her second love married someone else, causing her early poetry to reflect personal anguish. First literary recognition came in 1914 with Sonnets on Death (Sonnets de la muerte). She also continued her early literary pursuits. In fulfillment of these responsibilities, she visited nearly every major country in Europe and Latin America. She also served as a representative to the League of Nations and the United Nations. Gabriela Mistral devoted much time to diplomatic activity, serving as honorary consul at Madrid, Lisbon, Nice, in Brazil, and at Los Angeles. In 1922 the Mexican minister of education, Jose Vasconcelos, invited her to assist in his reform program.
She began instructing in 1904, achieving success in numerous high schools.
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