When I started this about 8 years ago or so, i used [this book](http://www.headfirstlabs.com/books/hfhtml/). It's structured as a case study, a coffee shop owner who wants to make a small webpage.

It's amazing how it's well written and fun to read. I like it puts some effort in showing you quickly the benefit of what you learned, you never get the impression something is pointless. (NB: it's big but you don't have to read it all. I read say the first half, than used it more like a reference book.)