Is the novel, a work of prose fiction, generally characterized as set in a stylized or idealized rural world?

The ancient novel is closely related to the pastoral. At least certain ancient novels, most notably Longus' Daphnis and Chloe, are set in an idealized rural world and are quite stylized. The modern novel, though, is only rarely set in the pastoral world of idealized shepherds and shepherdesses, but instead can have a wide range of settings. Some authors, such as Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy focused on village life, while others, such as...

The ancient novel is closely related to the pastoral. At least certain ancient novels, most notably Longus' Daphnis and Chloe, are set in an idealized rural world and are quite stylized. The modern novel, though, is only rarely set in the pastoral world of idealized shepherds and shepherdesses, but instead can have a wide range of settings. Some authors, such as Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy focused on village life, while others, such as Dickens and Joyce were more concerned with urban life. 

A stylized countryside is an element of certain types of fantasy novels, often ones set in a distant past or an imagined world with little in the way of technology. This type of writing is sometimes called "sword and sorcery" fantasy writing. A certain type of mystery novel, sometimes called a "cozy mystery", exemplified by the work of Agatha Christie, also often has an idealized village setting.