Question

Why might the author of "The White Heron" have chosen to set the story in the country?

Answer 1

she had never been to a city before

Answer 2

According to Sarah Jewett's biography, she was raised in the country side of the United States, specifically in South Berwick, Maine. As someone who is used to live in such environment it would be difficult to write about a place where she never lived in, in this case, the city. For this reason, she might have chosen to set her story there.